As part of International Women’s Day and Female Football Week, we profile some of the Club’s female staff. Today we meet May Low.
What is your role at Melbourne City FC?
I help the club meet its legal obligations as a company and a professional sporting organisation, making sure that the Club’s interests are looked after. Day to day, this means drafting and reviewing contracts, dealing with the fine print and assisting with any legal problems or questions my workmates may have.
I am currently also the club’s Safeguarding Officer – I support our coaches and teams to safeguard children and vulnerable adults that participate in our clinics and training sessions.
What is it like to work in the football environment?
Interesting! In addition to the usual risk management involved in any business, there are a lot of other peripheral issues that crop up. Football regulations are a complex world of their own, there’s a lot of passion at the Club and everyone works really hard for the club’s success in a competitive industry, both on and off the field.
Sometimes it’s tough – the football environment is fast-paced and can be high pressure – but that just makes it better when we do succeed.
Why is it important to recognise the impact of women on football club’s at all levels?
It’s important to recognise the contributions of women to encourage more girls to get involved. If you can’t see it, you’re less likely to be it.
Women also deserve the recognition! Melbourne City’s W-League side just won a hattrick of Grand Finals and the Matildas are arguably the best sporting team in Australia at the moment.
Just think what could happen if we gave talented young female footballers the recognition, support and career pathways that their male counterparts get! Not to mention the hard work of the women and men supporting the players – there’s a lot of skill and dedication behind the scenes as well.
How important is it to recognise International Women’s Day?
For me, it’s a reminder to reflect on how far gender equality has come since the first International Women’s Day in 1910, and to think about what we can do to close the gap even further for the next generation.
It reminds me to think to the future. I am lucky that men and women in history stood up for my right to own property, my right to vote, my right to work and keep my own salary, my right to not be discriminated against … What can we do to take another step towards gender equality?
Who has been one of your female mentors/inspirations in your career and why?
I’ve been lucky enough to have a few. Someone who was a huge influence in my early career was Elizabeth Bushby, a criminal lawyer and my manager at Legal Aid NSW. She had an incredible ability to spot the issues, a sharp sense of humour and no fear. Quite apart from improving my technical skills as an advocate, she taught me that integrity takes clarity and courage.
