AFA general manager policy and professionalism Phil Anderson will take on the responsibilities of CEO after acting in the role for close to six months in 2021.

Ms Morgan-Banda, who formerly served as the CEO of the Law Society of New Zealand and the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners, will now return to her home country.

“However, the ongoing uncertainty surrounding access to New Zealand and between states in Australia because of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly the Omicron variant, has meant that I have decided I wish to go to Melbourne to be close to family before returning to my home country, and family there, when the border allows.”

AFA president Sam Perera expressed gratitude for Ms Morgan-Banda’s term as CEO on behalf of the industry body’s board.

“The board of the AFA would like to thank Helen for her efforts over the last five months and respect her decision to return to her homeland during an unprecedented period of global uncertainty,” Mr Perera said.