Annie Kennedy is leading a powerful shift in a sporting environment where male voices have long been dominant. 

As Lead Facilitator at Capability Group and the driving force behind the Ford Women in Football Leadership Programme, Kennedy has been instrumental in creating a space where wāhine can thrive as confident, capable leaders. 

Since its inception in 2020, the programme has grown into a cornerstone of New Zealand Football’s legacy efforts from the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, with a clear mission to strengthen leadership capability, challenge deep-seated biases, and build a vibrant, supportive community of female leaders across all levels of the game. 

From New Zealand Football to federations to community clubs and New Zealand Football’s partner Ford, its graduates reflect the programme’s wide-reaching impact and Kennedy’s unwavering belief in the power of purposeful, inclusive leadership.

As Lead Facilitator at Capability Group, Kennedy aims to connect people and change lives through learning. “This programme really delivers on that,” says Kennedy. 

“We are passionate about projects that create a ripple effect, as participants return to their football roles, families, and communities with a new ability to influence. This programme also plays to my personal purpose of ‘creating the space to enable people and ideas to thrive’.”
 

At its core, the Ford Women in Football Leadership Programme is about more than developing skills. It’s about empowering wāhine to believe in their ability to lead and creating “a growing community of passionate wāhine stepping into their Rangatira (leadership) space.”

The goal is “to build confidence and connection across the wāhine in football in New Zealand,” Kennedy says. “The content of the programme encourages growth in confidence and capability to enable ripples of action in their football communities.”

These ripples begin with connection - an integral pillar of the programme. “The programme brings wāhine from across the motu, all playing various roles for women in football. Through a deep trust and shared understanding in the challenges and mahi they each do, the women build a strong connection,” Kennedy explains. 

“There is often a realisation that they share challenges and then support each other in a high trust environment. Many end up sharing strengths and tools and emotional support to enable the ripples of action in their football communities.”

When asked about the challenges female leaders in football face, Kennedy speaks of the impact of unconscious bias. “Unconscious bias, not feeling heard, visibility, confidence, doubt, doing more with less,” she lists.

The programme offers strategies and self-reflection tools to navigate these realities. “The understanding of personal styles, values, mindset, strengths and power often enables a fresh perspective.”

One of the biggest benefits, Kennedy says, is the ability to fall back on that high trust community of wāhine that understand and listen and help each other find effective strategies to overcome these challenges. 

Kennedy says that the women in the programme inspire her.

“I admire the mahi, the passion and the commitment from so many amazing wāhine in football. It truly is inspirational.”

Through her leadership, Annie Kennedy is not only facilitating a programme - she’s helping to foster a generation of wāhine who are confident, capable, and connected. Together, they are creating ripples of change that are transforming the landscape of football leadership in Aotearoa.

Article added: Friday 18 July 2025