New Zealand Football is pleased to announce the participants of the expanded 2021 Female Coach Mentorship Programme - including Tarena Ranui from the WaiBOP region.

Due to the depth of quality in the applicant pool, the number of participants on the programme has been expanded from six to nine. Participants, drawn from across New Zealand, include a Football Ferns centurion and coaches fresh from the 2020 ISPS Handa Women’s Premiership campaign.

The participants in the programme are: Katie Duncan (Northern Region Football), Harriet Steele (Northern Region Football), Tarena Ranui (WaiBOP), Kate Bennett (Central Football), Aleesha Heywood (Central Football), Maika Ruyter-Hooley (Capital Football), Katie Barrott (Capital Football), Kate Gallagher (Mainland), and Jessica Fuller (Football South). Further information on individual participants can be found below.

These participants reflect the diverse talent in the women’s coaching space, working in senior and junior football, with female and male players, and in football and futsal. 

New Zealand Football Women’s Development Manager Ashleigh Cox is delighted with the cohort.

“It’s fantastic that the group comes from a diverse range of backgrounds within football. It shows that there is no single way to get involved in coaching, which is really important to demonstrate. 

“The 2021 Female Coach Mentorship Programme aims to address the limited number of women pursuing advanced coaching qualifications and careers in high performance coaching.”

“It’s an opportunity to develop key leaders in the women’s game who can then go on to educate, mentor and inspire the next generation of females looking to take up coaching.”

Participants will be mentored by three of New Zealand’s top female coaches, with extensive experience both domestically and internationally:  Natalie Lawrence, Gemma Lewis, and Maia Vink. All three are part of High Performance Sport New Zealand’s Women in High Performance Sport pilot project. 

For more about the 2021 Female Coach Mentorship Programme, see here.

About the 2021 Female Coach Mentorship Programme participants

Katie Duncan 
124-cap Football Fern and has played at three Olympic Games and four FIFA Women’s World Cups. Assistant coach for Auckland Football in the 2020 ISPS Handa Women’s Premiership, is also Auckland United’s Girls Academy Director and U-14 coach. Currently holds OFC/NZF C-License, almost completed B-License. Based in Auckland.

Harriet Steele 
A former strength and conditioning specialist for the Football Ferns and now in the police force. Currently head coach of the newly merged Western Rangers women’s first team and has been assistant coach for Northern Lights for the last three seasons. Currently holds OFC/NZF C-License and is a candidate for OFC/NZF B-License. Based in Auckland.

Tarena Ranui 
Former age group representative and US college athlete, named 2019 McDonald’s NZ Junior Coach of the Year, works as a PE teacher. Coaches at Melville United Academy from U-15 to U-19 girls and women age groups. Currently holds OFC/NZF C-License. Based in Hamilton. 

Aleesha Heywood 
Community Development Officer at Central Football, and coaches in both football and futsal. Currently coaching with Central Football and Taradale AFC. Currently holds OFC/NZF C License and is a candidate for OFC/NZF B-License. Based in Napier.

Kate Bennett 
Community development officer at Central Football, with responsibilities for overseeing the operation of Federation Talent Centres in the Manawatu to develop players and coaches. An assistant coach for Central Football in the 2020 ISPS Handa Women’s Premiership, and coaches at Feilding High School. Currently holds OFC/NZF C-License License and is a candidate for OFC/NZF B-License. Based in Palmerston North.

Maika Ruyter-Hooley 
W-League team Melbourne Victory’s first player to reach 50 games and completed her PhD in 2015. Currently coaching Wellington United and was an assistant coach with Capital Football in the 2020 ISPS Handa Women’s Premiership. Currently holds FFA C-License (Australia), registered to start OFC/NZF B-License. Based in Wellington.

Katie Barrott 
Captained Capital Football in 2020 ISPS Handa Women’s Premiership campaign, and a former New Zealand U-17s representative. Football Development Officer at Capital Football. Currently holds OFC/NZF C-License and is a candidate for OFC/NZF B-License. Based in Wellington.

Kate Gallagher 
Built up a wealth of football experience as a former board member at former men’s national league club Tasman United, including running the club’s refugee programme and as a coach with the club’s academy. In 2020 coached juniors and senior women at Mapua Moutere and Districts Football Club. Currently holds Junior Level 1 and is working towards OFC/NZF C License. Based in Nelson.

Jessica Fuller 
Assistant coach for Southern United Women’s Development Squad last season, currently coaches at Green Island Football Club and will be taking a boys’ futsal team to the New Zealand Secondary School Futsal Championships. Currently undertaking OFC/NZF C-License. Based in Dunedin.