Australian Sailing's own Gemma Burns has been recognised as a champion of women’s sport in NSW at the 2022 Her Sport Her Way Awards.

Australian Sailing NSW Club Services Officer, Burns received the Young Achiever Award which recognises a woman 25 years or younger who has made a significant contribution to the advancement of women or girls in sport during the 2021 calendar year.

The Awards honour the achievements of women and organisations breaking down barriers for women’s sport in NSW and have quickly become a highlight of the sport industry’s International Women’s Day celebrations.

Twenty-five-year-old Gemma Burns is breaking down barriers and perceptions in sailing, a sport traditionally male dominated. She is the only female qualified instructor and coach in all four disciplines of sailing in the state and the youngest Keelboat Senior Instructor in Australia.

In 2021, Gemma formed a SheSails networking group to support and grow women’s skills in governance in the sport. She organised a national SheSails leadership conference which amassed 235 live viewers and, when COVID hit adapted the course syllabus for the Australian Sailing Instructor Courses to be online - a first for Australian Sailing.  The SheSails group now boasts participants from 47 clubs across NSW from the Tweed Valley to Jindabyne.

Gemma strongly believes “you can’t be what you can’t see”, and leads by example in her instructing, sailing career and administrative role with Australian Sailing.  Through her influence Gemma has been a positive role model and increased the number of women and girls involved in the sport in sailing, instructing and administration.

The Her Sport Her Way Awards are part of the NSW Government’s women in sport strategy, Her Sport Her Way which aims to increase participation opportunities, and attract investment and recognition for women's sport. Awards are presented across five categories, including Champion, Trailblazer, Young Achiever, Outstanding Organisation and Local Champion.

For further information on the Her Sport Her Way Awards, including award categories and winners’ bios visit: https://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/hshw/her-sport-her-way-award-winners-2021/22