Diane Gilman (1945—1998), played a key role in the initial development and coordination of the Global Ecovillage Network, a support network for model communities to show how to live more sustainably on the planet, in urban, rural, developed and less developed situations. In 1991, she and her husband, Robert Gilman co-authored Eco-Villages and Sustainable Communities, a seminal study of ecovillages for Gaia Trust .

Diane Gilman co-facilitated a major Sustainable Community and Ecovillage Conference held at Findhorn, Scotland, in October 1995. This conference was instrumental in giving shape to the ecovillage movement.

She was on the advisory board of the Ecovillage Training Center , Summertown, Tennessee as well as other organizations working to provide positive solutions for living in our times.

Diane Gilman died of cancer in 1998.