TTFA at FIFA Safeguarding Summit
TTFA Safeguarding Team Participates in FIFA Safeguarding Summit and Celebrates Graduation of Four FIFA Guardians
The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) continued to strengthen its safeguarding leadership within the global football community as members of the Association’s Safeguarding Department participated in the FIFA Safeguarding Summit 2026 in Zurich, Switzerland.
A five-member TTFA delegation attended the summit, led by Safeguarding Manager Gary St Rose, who was invited to serve as a panelist in two key discussions during the event—an indication of the growing recognition of Trinidad and Tobago’s contribution to safeguarding within international football.
Merere Gonzales, alongside Gary St Rose (center)
Four TTFA Officers Graduate from FIFA Guardians Programme
A major highlight of the visit was the graduation ceremony held on March 11, where four TTFA safeguarding officers successfully completed the FIFA Guardians Programme, an internationally recognised initiative designed to strengthen safeguarding leadership within football associations worldwide.
The graduates were:
Merere Gonzales
Everton Alfred
Lystra Lara
Raquel Russell
Each graduate received their certification from Johanna Wood, marking the successful completion of the programme which equips safeguarding officers with the tools and knowledge required to develop and implement effective safeguarding frameworks within their organisations.
Contribution to Global Safeguarding Dialogue
The summit brought together safeguarding specialists, administrators, and researchers from across the football world to examine best practices and strategies aimed at strengthening child and participant protection within the sport.
Key areas of focus included:
Good governance and the role of leadership in creating a safeguarding culture
The development and implementation of safeguarding policies
Building safeguarding networks and partnerships at national and regional levels.
As part of the programme, St Rose contributed to a panel discussion exploring how safeguarding officers can help promote organisational readiness and effectively address safeguarding challenges within their member associations.
He also participated in a session titled “Advancing Evidence-Informed Safeguarding in Global Football – How Research Can Influence Policy and Impact Safeguarding Practice,” chaired by Daniel Rhind, which examined how research and data can help shape safeguarding policies and strengthen operational practice across international football.
The TTFA’s participation at the summit reflects the Association’s continued commitment to safeguarding excellence and leadership within the sport.
