Jessi Miley-Dyer has been appointed as the new commissioner of the World Surf League (WSL), making history as the first woman to hold this position. She previously served as chief of sport and has been with the league since 2012, committed to promoting it through creative storytelling and engaging content.
Miley-Dyer emphasized the importance of equal prize money in sports during her announcement at the “Winning: Women & Sports” event hosted by Sportico and SheMedia. The WSL was the first North American sports league to offer equal prize money, which she highlighted as a significant achievement, especially as a former professional athlete herself. She hopes to continue pushing boundaries for gender equity within sports.
Referring to recent investments in women’s sports, Miley-Dyer stressed that women’s sports are not a charity but a viable business proposition. She urged stakeholders not to view women’s sports as a charity case but as a valuable investment opportunity, emphasizing its potential financial returns.
Rumors about Miley-Dyer’s future role in the WSL had sparked on social media after recent changes in her title. However, with her appointment as commissioner, those rumors have been put to rest. Miley-Dyer hails from Sydney, Australia and is the first person to hold the commissioner title since Kieren Perrow stepped down in 2019. The news of her appointment coincides with other leadership changes in the WSL, including Ryan Crosby taking over as CEO from Erik Logan who left last summer. The league is undergoing a period of transition with renewed efforts to promote it, especially focusing on gender equity and creative media strategies.
