Country Liaisons for Oceania

Founding president of the Australia Seniors Computer Clubs Association (ASCCA), dedicated to helping older people use modern technology. She represents ASCCA nationally and internationally and served on the Digital Switchover Expert Group and the Cyber Security Awareness Week Committee. She is a Digital Inclusion Champion and a member of Project Broadband for Seniors Kiosks across Australia, funded by the federal government. Nan is a living example of her belief that learning is a lifelong experience. She was over 50 when she went to university where her first success led to others. In total, she earned 5 tertiary qualifications covering adult education, community organization, local and applied history, a Masters in local government management with specialities in business (governance) and training. She has been involved with community organizations for more than 60 years and has often received awards for her contributions. She is also a founder-member of the Careers Advisory Council.

Lives mostly in New Zealand and is an independent educator. She began her career in primary education after earning a BEdPrimary.  She studied ESL and tutored small groups in both Australia and NZ, became a qualified yoga teacher in Kerala, India, and an experienced meditator through MBSR and Vipassana. She has also developed workshops for local councils around growing and cooking food including ‘Garden to Table’ and ‘Love Food — Hate Waste’ in Sydney. For the past 10 years since hearing Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi on radio and purchasing his book, “From Ageing to Saging: A Revolutionary Approach to Ageing,” she has become passionate about ageing — undertaking extensive research and learning before developing her own workshops in Sydney including “55+ What’s Next” and “Writing Our Stories, Knowing Our Wisdom”. She is now developing additional courses to deliver online while video/blogging about ageing via Zen Ageing https://www.facebook.com/groups/ZenAging/

President of her local U3A at Glenorchy, Tasmania, and of U3A Online, reaching around the globe as the world’s only “virtual” U3A. Born in West Yorkshire, England, Jean migrated with her parents to Tasmania in 1951. She taught English, Social Science and Special Education in Tasmanian high schools before working as Field Officer and later President for the state branch of the Australian Education Union. Jean loves traveling and has taught in the UK and in Sweden. She served as a Civil Marriage Celebrant for twelve years and on several Boards, including Council for the Ageing (COTA) and the Annie Kenny Young Women’s Shelter and has been President of three Zonta Clubs.