In this episode I am delighted to be talking with Maia Jackman about leadership on and off the field, transitioning from a career as a footballer into media and physiotherapy among other things. Māia Jackman MNZM is a former New Zealand Football Ferns captain, sports physiotherapist, football advocate, and media personality whose leadership and legacy have helped shape the women’s game in Aotearoa and beyond. Māia made her international debut for the Football Ferns in 1993 at just 17 years old. Across a remarkable two-decade career, she earned 50 caps and scored 12 goals, proudly representing her country on the global stage, including at the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup. In 2007 she became the only Kiwi female footballer ever selected for a FIFA World All-Stars team, playing alongside some of the greatest players in the game. Off the field, Māia has worked extensively in both community and elite performance environments. She is passionate about holistic athlete well-being, injury prevention, and inclusive leadership in sport. Her expertise spans physiotherapy, governance, and advocacy, where she has championed safe, equitable pathways for girls and women in football. Māia has recently been appointed as a Performance Team Leader at High Performance Sport New Zealand, supporting some of Aotearoa’s top sports in their pursuit of performance and wellbeing excellence. She also serves on FIFA’s Players’ Voice Panel alongside 15 other FIFA Legends from around the world, helping lead global efforts to combat racism in football. A familiar face as a television pundit and an engaging public speaker, Māia has played a key role in raising the profile of women’s football in New Zealand. Her voice continues to carry weight in conversations on equity, inclusion, and representation across sport. In recognition of her services to football, Māia was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in 2013. Proud mum to 10-year-old daughter Kaea and partner to the epic Cassie Roma, Māia brings empathy, humour, leadership, and lived experience to everything she does, whether in sport, the clinic, at home, or around the boardroom table. https://www.linkedin.com/in/maia-jackman-mnzm-37566924/ www.jessstuart.co.nz
