Football Federation Australia has announced that Emma Highwood has been appointed the Head of Women’s Football.

Highwood assumes the role that was made redundant back in 2010 with the departure of Leeanne Grantham, and combines the new responsibilities with those of her current role as FFA’s Head of Community Football.

“These are exciting times for women’s football and we have wonderful opportunities from the grassroots to the elite level,” said Highwood.

“Participation in women’s football is growing rapidly and we have incredible role models in the Westfield Matildas."

“The team’s success in Asia, next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup and the increasing profile of the Westfield W-League will help us tell the great story of women’s football in Australia.”

Emma Highwood, who is also on the Asian Football Confederation Social Responsibility Standing Committee, has risen through the ranks at FFA over the past four years, working in game and club development roles, and co-ordinating FFA’s key game development partnerships with State and Territory Member Federations, including the implementation of the National Premier Leagues model.

Last year the executive was also involved in the development and launch of FFA’s Women’s Football Strategy, a roadmap for the development of women's football in Australia.

CEO David Gallop stated that the merging of the women’s and community football responsibilities was part of a considered approach by the FFA to game development and participation growth.

“FFA wants women’s football development to be at the heart of the game, not as a separate stream," said Gallop. "That’s why including women’s football in Emma’s portfolio makes strategic sense.”

The return of the Head of Women's Football position comes on the back of a number of recent occurrences regarding women's football including the soon to be table W-League review and the FFA's recently announced search for a women's football Marketing Manager.