Gemma Gill, RNLI, Wales’ first female Coxwain

Gemma Gill’s path into maritime search and rescue began in 2001 when she joined the RNLI as a volunteer. “I quickly became hooked on lifeboating,” she said, a spark that soon turned into a lifelong commitment. She grabbed every opportunity available: serving as boat crew, training as a tractor driver, joining the RNLI Flood Rescue Team, taking on the station training coordinator role, and even travelling abroad for international SAR learning. She joined the IMRF Lifeboat Crew Exchange in Denmark in 2014, and later travelled to Bangladesh to help deliver flood rescue training. 

After navigating “some difficult life stuff,” Gemma felt the pull toward a new challenge. In 2018, she moved to the RNLI College as a Lifeboat Trainer. When the Coxswain position at Fishguard opened in late 2023, she applied, and made history as the first woman to hold the role in Wales. “I love my role here in Fishguard and have a great team that I’m hopeful we can build upon for years to come,” she said. 

Reflecting on her experience in the IMRF Lifeboat Crew Exchange, Gemma says she still keeps in touch with many of the colleagues she met 11 years ago. “It is always useful to observe good practice on another SAR asset,” she said. “There are always things to be learned. I guess at nearly 25 years into lifeboating, I am a melting pot of all the things I have seen, heard, observed and tried over the years.” One memory stands out: a “damage control” exercise held inside a ship suspended in a barn and gradually filled with water. Her team, made up entirely of women “by chance”, managed to stay standing while the other team had to swim out. “A clear victory,” she added. 

Life as a coxswain leaves little separation between the personal and professional. “My current life revolves around my job,” Gemma said. Though contracted for 37 hours a week, the pager means she must always be ready: within ten minutes of the lifeboat, sober, and definitely “not on horseback.” Her time off is precious, spent riding, seeing friends, and catching up on everything she can’t do while on call. “I don’t have the flexibility to go on the water for my own enjoyment any more which is something I miss,” she said, adding that she hopes to regain a healthier balance in the future. 

For many, high-pressure situations might be the hardest part of lifeboat operations, but for Gemma, they are surprisingly manageable. “We have very good training, combined with standard operating procedures, check cards and good communication,” she explained. “Always get the basics right and the more pressure there is, the more important the basics become.” Her time on the crew exchange highlighted the RNLI’s strong safety culture. “I remember thinking the RNLI was in quite a good place safety wise compared to some of the things I saw and heard.” 

Being a woman in a leadership role brings both pride and pressure. Gemma feels supported by her team, but she’s honest about the wider reality. “I do think women always have more to prove in leadership roles. I don’t necessarily think men feel that same pressure.” She welcomes the RNLI’s clear stance on equality. “Seeing the RNLI stating that they will not tolerate misogynistic behaviors and standing by that is really positive.” 

These experiences have shaped her commitment to uplifting other women in maritime SAR, particularly through her involvement in the IMRF #WomenInSAR Mentoring Scheme. “It’s taken me until my 40s to acknowledge the additional struggles women can face in a SAR career,” she said. “Those of us who have managed to hang on in there… need to put down ladders and help the next generation get to where they want and deserve to be.” When her mentee recently passed out as a coxswain, Gemma was overjoyed. “I was absolutely delighted when she passed as coxswain! I find celebrating others’ wins even more enjoyable than my own.” 

She sees first-hand how mentoring, events and initiatives like the crew exchange are strengthening networks and confidence among women in SAR. Speaking of one of her own crew, she noted: “I can see how she benefits from this,” explaining how a younger colleague now seeks support more freely. That inspired Gemma to help create “a safe space to connect, offload and discuss with other women who are operating in a similar role and SAR space.” Stronger networks are forming, and women are progressing because of it. 

In her current role, the impact of these programmes shapes everything she does. “It’s less about the specific skills and more about creating a space for women to grow in confidence in their own ability and what they can achieve,” she said. Her message to anyone thinking about joining her local lifeboat station is simple: everyone has something to offer, and pulling together as a team is what gets the job done. 

Her advice to anyone considering a maritime SAR role is bold and empowering. “Go for it! Don’t let anyone else determine what you are capable of,” she said. SAR is demanding enough, no one should face unnecessary barriers. “I don’t care who my crew are, or who they identify as, as long as they come together to work on our mission of saving lives at sea.” And the rewards, she says, are unmatched. “One person can’t change the world, but you can change the world for one person. Stick with SAR long enough and you’ll do that.” 

The IMRF is continuing to build these pathways for women in maritime SAR through upcoming international training opportunities. Registration is now open for the 2026 #WomenInSAR Training, taking place 27-30 August in the Netherlands and hosted by KNRM. This immersive operational course is designed for women currently serving or aspiring to serve as coxswains and includes leadership development, practical exercises on rescue vessels, and open discussion spaces that mirror the kind of support networks Gemma values so highly. The training is limited to 16 participants and is open to IMRF member organisations only. You can register here. 

Additionally, the 12th IMRF Lifeboat Crew Exchange will take place on 19-26 September 2026. First launched in 2012, the exchange brings together SAR personnel from across the world to learn from each other’s techniques, operational structures and training environments. Participants return to their stations with fresh skills, new confidence, and an international network of colleagues, experiences Gemma herself speaks warmly about. The programme is open to IMRF member organisations, with limited places also available for those unable to host an exchange crew. If your organisation is interested in joining the 2026 exchange, please click here.