Bay's Hansen appointed to New Zealand Football World Cup role
If her ability to keep a secret is any indication Hawke's Bay's Paula Hansen will thrive in her new role as New Zealand Football's General Manager of Women's World Cup Legacy and Inclusion.
Taradale Football Club life member, Hansen (pictured above) , found out about the appointment hours before she won the Administrator of the Year award at the May 29 Hawke's Bay Sports Awards function in Taradale.
"While I was overwhelmed with the administrator award I was also on a high about the appointment but I couldn't say anything about that until it was announced on Thursday," Hansen recalled.
A Hawke's Bay United board member since 2013 and chairperson for the past six years, Hansen, 47, will start her Auckland-based role next month. New Zealand will co-host the World Cup with Australia in 2023.
"My role is a permanent one. It's not just about the event. It's about the impact of the Word Cup from now until after the event," Hansen explained.
A mother of two and grandmother of two who still plays for Taradale in Hawke's Bay's club competition, Hansen, agreed the appointment couldn't have come at better time following the end of the Hawke's Bay United franchise earlier this year. Next summer's new-look National League will involve club-based teams.
"While that was emotional and sad for Hawke's Bay I've always been a believer that timing often works out," Hansen said.
A qualified project manager, Hansen, has worked in the Justice sector for 23 years where she has held a variety of leadership and management roles. She is a former Senior Capability Advisor at The Ministry of Justice /Tahu o te Ture, where she led initiatives including te reo and tikanga Maori capability development across the Ministry, as well as programmes around alcohol and drug treatment in the Waikato region.
In 2019 Hansen was selected to attend the Fifa Football Leadership programme in Zurich. Australia Football's GM of Women's World Cup Legacy and Inclusion attended the same forum.
"It's great to have already meet my Aussie counterpart," Hansen said.
She will finish working for the Ministry of Justice on July 2.
"All of my previous football roles have been as a volunteer. It's going to be neat to be getting paid for doing my hobby," she added.
