With a background in Education and currently still involved in this sector as an independent contractor, Jean brings strengths in management, governance, and a desire and drive for action and completing projects to the Trusts. In the Arts field, being from a creative family, she developed her love of watercolour painting. As an artist she attended various workshops in South Africa in a variety of mediums and exhibited in South Africa before coming to New Zealand in 1997 and exhibiting as a member of the Feilding Art Group till 2002. In Manawatu she held solo exhibitions and exhibited at the Manawatu Arts Awards. From 2002 to 2011 she was as active member of the Estuary Arts Centre, Orewa and a regular exhibitor.
Since retiring and moving to live permanently in Tairua, she has joined the local Tairua Art Group and currently exhibits at the Little Gallery in Tairua. A member of the Mercury Bay Art Escape and the Tairua representative, she has held open studios in 2021 and will again in 2023.
In Tairua Jean has been active in the community being Chair of the Ratepayers Association, President of the local Focus Club, a member of the Board of the Tairua Golf Club and is Tairua co-ordinator for the Daffodil Day for the local community.
