As Oceania football marked the historic launch of the OFC Pro League, General Secretaries from across the confederation gathered in Auckland for the first OFC General Secretary workshop of 2026, held at the Home of Football – Te Kahu o Kiwa.
The two-day workshop brought together General Secretaries and Technical Directors from OFC Member Associations (MAs) for focused discussions and reflection, with sessions centred on strategic planning and strengthening leadership capabilities across the region.
This workshop forms part of the OFC Executive Programme, that supports the OFC Strategy top goal of leaving a lasting legacy in football through capability building, empowering leaders across Oceania.
OFC Chief of Football Division Patrick Jacquemet said the workshop marked a positive start of the year for OFC and its Member Associations.
“The General Secretary’s workshop had a great atmosphere, full of positive energy, open conversations, and active participation from MA General Secretaries and Technical Directors. Everyone actively contributed to discussions on the new upcoming OFC Strategic Plan, and the development of MA strategies.”
Day one gave Member Associations an opportunity to engage and provide feedback on the development of OFC’s new strategy, in order to collectively set the vision for the development of football in the region moving forward.
The sessions then shifted to a focus on their own MA strategies and how strategy can used as a high-performance tool for their organisation. Through discussion, participants explored ways to transform strategy into a driver of success with practical approaches, effective execution and consistent monitoring.
Participants also reflected on their own personal leadership development. The participants built personal development plans for 2026, focusing on what leadership capabilities they want to develop over the year and how they do it.
The sessions were highly interactive, with group reflections and collaboration of ideas a key aspect of the workshop which encouraged participants to openly share their experiences, reflect collectively and apply them directly to their own MAs.
Solomon Islands Football Federation Chief Executive Officer Leonard Paia explained the focus on strategy development and leadership execution made the workshop valuable for Member Associations.
“It’s been very useful, this workshop we focused on the development of our MA strategies. We’re at the end of the current cycle, so now we look towards the next four years. This has been important to help us reflect on what we want to achieve and the role of a strategy to guide us.
“The discussions, concepts and examples, it really provides that clarity, which will be very useful when I go back and work on the areas we need to improve.”
Paia was joined by General Secretaries from Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea, Tahiti, Fiji, New Zealand, Vanuatu and Tonga. He explained the collaborative discussions during the sessions helped strengthen connections and share ideas.
“It is very important to have this connection because each MA has their own experiences and unique situations. By talking and listening to each other, it helps us understand, learn from each and find solutions to common challenges.”
OFC Head of Member Association Services Dudley Langelier said the workshops play a key role in supporting and developing OFC’s Member Associations.
“These workshops provide an important platform for reflection, knowledge exchange and to support the General Secretaries in their leadership development.
“One of the main objectives over the two days was to foster opportunities for insightful discussions on the importance of strategic planning and how it can be used as a high-performance tool to provide direction in Member Associations.
“By combining their knowledge and perspectives, General Secretaries leave empowered with new approaches and reinforced leadership skills to drive impact across the Oceania region.”
Photo Credit: OFC Media via Phototek