Gillian Rayner
TRUSTEE
Gill made her first jump in 1978, jumping regularly for a number of years and becoming an instructor. In 1978, she started paragliding and, in 1984, judging, first accuracy, followed by FS, CF and CP, becoming an international judge in 2006. She became a French delegate to IPC in 1990 serving as IPC Technical Secretary from 1998 to 2002 and then became First Vice President in 2007.
In 2014, Gill was elected FAI Executive Director (the first woman to hold the position). She has served in various capacities (judge, jury FAI Controller) at dozens of FAI World Championships and Cups. In 2018, she was elected President of the International Skydiving Commission of FAI, together with an all female Board, another first in the history of FAI.
She remains a member of the board of the French Parachute Federation where, over the years she has held the positions of Treasurer, Vice President, and Chair of the Competition Committee, and she is still in charge of International Relations. Gill was the recipient of the Paul Tissandier diploma from the FAI; the French Bronze, Silver and Gold medals of Sport (issued by the Ministry of Sport); and the prestigious Aeronautical Medal (issued by the Ministry of Transport).
Worldwide, the number of female jumpers remains relatively stable at about 20/25%, it is Gill’s aim to encourage women to take an active role in sport politics and governance where, with the current exception of ISC, the numbers are way lower than the actual percentage of female jumpers.
Gill retired from her professional career in HR in 2003 and no longer actively jumps but has fun from time to time in a wind tunnel. She lives in Leucate, a small village located on the Mediterranean, in the south west of France.
Gill serves on the Development, Events, Nominations & Elections, and Path of Excellence/Pioneers of Excellence Committees.
