We're proud to celebrate wahine toa on International Womens Day. 
Northern Region Football board member Jennifer Pickering was recognised as Te Tohu Kaiwhakahaere (Sports Administrator Award) sponsored by Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Hine, at Saturday's Te Tai Tokerau Māori Sports Awards.
 
A strong advocate for creating opportunities within her community, Jen believes the team and relationship building skills she developed as a football coach are a great foundation for moving into governance, where being able to build teams and relationships, and understand different perspectives is crucial to getting things done.
 
"My drive and why is giving a voice for my culture and people, as well as my region. To be an advocate and driving access for everyone up here in the North, where opportunities can be limited."
 
"I'd love more chances for women to get involved in all levels of the code. Having access to quality support and resourcses including coaching courses, referee courses, administration training, mentoring accross the levels and held on non-playing woman's days would be of benefit not only for the clubs, for the region, but for the sport as a whole. This would also make a positive impact in growing volunteers which are often hard to find let alone retain. Having a passion, the drive, the love of what you're doing and knowing the impact you're making is really all that matters at the end of the day but a helping hand from the region and NZ Football would definitely make a difference."
 
Jennifer started in football administration in 2011, and admits she likes to have her hands in many jars, being involved as a coach and in governance with community football at the Pahia and Cosmos clubs, as well as contributing to Rugby League and her local community gym in Moerewa.
 
"A lot of opportunities presented for me last year,  one being from Māori Football Aotearoa founder Phillip Parker, who recognised the potential in me as a wāhine māori coach, which was a really big highlight for me," said Jen.
"This lead to coaching the 16 Māori North Island girls in January this year followong onto taking the 18 New Zealand Māori Girls who'll play Hawaii in July. A really proud moment recently, was welcoming Team USA Women representatives on to the pitch as kaikaranga before the Māori football games in January, I'm sure we made a big impression on the American players, both on and off the pitch with culture at the forefront."
 
"I also made the football coach mentor programme, the leadership programme, which led to being involved in NRF governance. So that was a huge one for me, stepping out into a regional sort of a position where in the past I had primarily been over two community clubs and the eastern bay clustera."
 
NRF CEO Laura Menzies is delighted to have Jen's experience, ideas and drive in the mix on the Board.
 
"Jen's made a really big difference to our Board in just a few short months - her work with clubs in her area is a valuable perspective for us, and she's making a massive, positive contribution to football in our region through Māori Football Aotearoa. We're privileged to have her on the team, and it's tremendous to see her contribution recognised this way," said Laura. 
 

Jen in coaching mode at Paihia FC

A passionate volunteer for many years, Jen sees her work in community and sport as a way to give back, and drive development that might not exist elsewhere. 
 
"It's quite hard when you're constantly trying to get your foot into your field in your profession and doors keep shutting. I've found I've had more traction as a volunteer than actually trying to get into the field as a qualified person - if you're constantly getting the door shut on you, it can really put a damper on your self confidence in your work. And so it's been really awesome to get traction, even though it's voluntary, and it keeps the cup full. Often volunteers end up looking for other avenues to keep yourself and your family afloat so that you can pursue your passion and give back to the community, and really seeing the difference that can make.
Jen is keen to recognise the support of her husband Lucky and their four children, without who she wouldn't be able to do her mahi, and her whānau, who have been a big influence on her approach and career.
 
"I've got my brother in law Dean Harrison and sister Judith - they are really passionate and they put a lot of hard work into our football community."
 
"There's also my mother, who I lost at a very young age - she did a lot of work for our people, trying to create opportunities for those who might  not have access or the best supportive networks to be the best that they could be. It was a really big inspiration of genuine pure love that she had for our community and for our people."
 
This winter's FIFA Women's World Cup has brought another chance to lead and make progress through football.
 
"I've just been offered a position on the Sisters of Country, Whanau by sea and sky for the FIFA Women’s World Cup - that's one of three Māori and three First Nations woman, to ensure that the culture for both Māori and First Nations are upheld with their mana intact. That's the dream, to be able to advocate for my people for football and in this country would be icing on the cake," said Jen.

Article added: Wednesday 08 March 2023