For a former professional surfer who’s as passionate about the sport as she is about opening more opportunities for women, Jessi Miley-Dyer has the perfect job.
She’s the Women’s Commissioner for the World Surf League (Association of Surfing Professionals), tasked with rebuilding the sport to create a stable competition platform for women.
And she’s already making a significant impact in the role. Just over 12 months in the position, she’s more than doubled the prize money for each women’s world championship event, introduced three new events into the women’s schedule and fought to ensure female surfers get the same opportunities as men – including equal access to the best waves.
She’s been credited with making 2014 the best year yet for women’s professional surfing.
“There still aren’t many women in positions of power [in sport], but I am happy to lead the charge in my particular sport,” she tells Women’s Agenda. “You can’t be what you can’t see. We need greater visibility and representation at the executive levels of traditionally male dominated sports.”
While Miley-Dyer’s ambition was always to become a professional surfer – she landed her first sponsorship with Rip Curl at 25 and reached the World Number 4 sport in 2006 before retiring in 2011 – she can trace her leadership ambitions back to high school, where she says she was educated to believe women can do anything and everything.
But once on the world surfing tour, she found women were often given second best of everything – including pay, strange competing times and even the second-best waves.
“I am from a family of strong personalities, and I found that it took more energy for me to ignore how much it annoyed me, than for me to stand up and do something about it,” she says.
“I was told a lot by people to concentrate on my surfing, and my career, and to just ‘do my job’ but I refused to believe that I was some kind of a second class citizen.”
And so she became an advocate for equal opportunities, including as the women’s surfer representative on the sport’s board, and moved to personally lead on change. “Now I’m where I am, in the role that I have, and things have changed.
“The women surf when the waves are good, not just when the boys don’t want to.”
Jessi Miley-Dyer is a finalist in the Change Champion category of the NAB Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards. See more on her story below.
Born? Coogee, Sydney Australia
Childhood? The water – either at the beach or in the pool.
Leadership qualifications? I was the women’s surfer representative on the board of the world surf league from 2007-2012, after taking over from Layne Beachley. I fought for us on each and every point,when needed.
High school ambition? To be a professional surfer. At that stage, I was focusing on the world junior titles. Now I am part of the University of New South Wales’ elite athlete program completing my Media degree.
First ever job? I was a professional surfer. At 15 I had my first professional deal with Rip Curl. I retired from pro surfing in 2011 at 25. I had a few knee injuries that became a problem. I am still unsure whether you can retire from something that you would have done all day everyday, even if you didn’t get paid for it.
Who and what do you lead? Now, I am the women’s commissioner for the world surf league – so globally, the professional sport of surfing. I look out for all levels of the pro tours (from juniors to the world championship tour). I’m tasked with rebuilding the sport and creating a stable platform for the women to compete and showcase on.
How do you stay informed? Twitter and I are very good friends.
And manage your wellbeing? It’s just really important to me that I am active. The more exercise I do, the less fatigued I get and better I feel mentally. Surfing will always be my favorite – there is something cleansing about it, and I always feel like I can wash the day off in salt water. I am always a better version of myself after getting out of the ocean. If that’s not possible, something high intensity works too.
What is the first thing you do in the morning? Sadly, it’s check the news on my phone with a coffee.
And average day in the life… I spend a lot of time liaising with other people in my office, and other teams and departments to make sure that we are all on the same page. I spend time on email with athletes of various levels of the pro tour (with a focus on the top 17) and if I am lucky, I am putting the finishing touches on an overseas trip that I am about to take
Leadership ‘superpower’? I work better under pressure, and don’t get stressed very easily. My former career used to be based on 30 minute blocks (each heat) in which I had to perform, prove myself and validate my worth to fans and sponsors. I am very happy with my deadlines being longer than 30 minutes!
Advice to your 18-year-old self? Maintain the rage.
Helen Duckham’s story is the latest of our 100 Stories Project, in which we’re asking women about a turning point that’s shifted her leadership career. Telling 100 stories from January 1 2015, the project showcases the diverse range of leadership careers available, as well as some of the brilliant achievements and fascinating career paths of women. It also demonstrates how planned and unexpected forks in the road can take you places you never thought possible.
Got an idea? Get in contact. Check out more on our 100 Stories Project here.
Other women featured in this series include:
Angela Ferguson: The woman designing the future of work (Google included)
Jo-Ann Hicks: eBay’s leading woman on the risks that made her digital career
Annabelle Daniel: ‘I’m the unlikely combination of CEO and single parent
Sarah Liu: Multiple job titles and variety: Life as a ‘slashie’
Lindy Stephens: When the power shifts, women should make the most of it
Kate Morris: Why I gave up law to become an online entrepreneur
Jacque Comery: Leading a team of 12 on an Antarctic base