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Emma Highwood, a top Football Federation Australia executive involved in the Alen Stajcic sacking drama, will leave the governing body at the end of next month.
Australian football faces a female leadership vacuum as another top Football Federation Australia executive leaves the sport.
Emma Highwood, the most senior woman employed by FFA, has announced her departure as the head of Women's Community Football and Football Development and will leave office next month.
Highwood's exit comes just a fortnight after David Gallop announced he will finish up as chief executive officer at year's end.
With FFA vice-chairman Heather Reid stepping away from her board duties as she battles cancer, and former FIFA and FFA suit Moya Dodd without a current formal role in the game, the lack of women in senior positions is galling.
Reid's absence leaves just one woman - Kelly Barin Rosmarin - on the remaining board of five.
Highwood's resignation follows that of the only other woman on the FFA executive, company secretary Jo Setright, in April.
It speaks volumes no women have been among the publicly speculated candidates - such as PFA chief John Didulica, Sydney FC boss Danny Townsend and Victorian chief Peter Filopoulos - to step into Gallop's shoes.
It remains to be seen how a new FFA body, the Women's Council, will influence policy and outcomes at the organisation after its creation last year.
Highwood, 38, leaves FFA after delivering the Aldi Miniroos program, "MyFootballClub" - the biggest sports registration database in Australia - and overseeing record participation growth in the sport.
She kept a low profile during her tenure but was thrust into the limelight during the unedifying dismissal of Alen Stajcic.
Stajcic was sacked in January for overseeing the development of a toxic culture as Matildas coach.
As head of women's football, it was Highwood that implemented the review process that eventually led Gallop and the FFA board to terminate Stajcic's reign.
All parties had their names dragged through the mud by the shambolic handling of Stajcic's exit, when FFA chose to keep key reasons behind his exit confidential for health and safety reasons.
After an ugly airing of grievances, Stajcic was paid out by FFA and found work as coach of A-League club Central Coast.
Both FFA and Stajcic have agreed not to comment further on the saga as part of a settlement.
