Jill Evans was born in the Rhondda in 1959 where she still lives. Jill attended University in Aberystwyth and then worked as a Research Assistant at the former Polytechnic of Wales where she gained her M.Phil. Degree.

She worked for the National Federation of Women's Institutes in Wales for six years before taking up a post as Wales Regional Organiser for CHILD - The National Infertility Support Network.

Jill Evans was a councillor for seven years - on the former Rhondda Borough and Mid Glamorgan County Councils and then Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council.

She was elected as Plaid Cymru's Alternate Member of the Committee of the Regions in 1993 and served for four years, and was also the party's representative on the European Free Alliance, working with Plaid Cymru's sister parties throughout the continent.

Jill Evans was Chair of Plaid Cymru 1994-96. In June 1999 Jill Evans and fellow candidate Eurig Wyn were elected as the first MEPs in Plaid Cymru's history.

Jill Evans was re-elected to the European Parliament in 2004 and is a member of the Green / European Free Alliance Group - the fourth largest group in the Parliament.

She is a member of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety and the Delegation for relations with the Palestinian Authorities. She deputises on the Committee for Regional Development and Committee for Women's Rights and Gender Equality.

She is Deputy Leader of Plaid Cymru The Party of Wales, party spokesperson for European and International issues and chair of CND Cymru.