A retired mother and grandmother, Jean originally hails from Largs. Her working life was varied and included running a hotel in Greenock while raising her three young daughters Kerry, the late Emma and Cher. When the girls were older she worked for the charity, Shelter and became Area Manager in Northampton and finally in Scotland. Jean's first memory of Burns was with her late brother Robert, who won prizes for recitation whilst on holiday.

She joined Greenock Burns Club in 1998 and the Federation in 2000. Being on the Conference Committee since 2000 she has supported this and remains an active member to this day. She also supports the local School’s Burns Supper in Inverclyde for the last 20 years and assists with the Annual Schools Competitions and latterly the Killie Week in July which raises funds for RBWF.

Jean is a Past President of Greenock Burns Club (the Mother Club) and was instrumental in raising funds for it to be granted a Club Coat of Arms during her year of office. She has delivered many toasts over the years and is in great demand as a speaker

Jean is also a member of Skelmorlie Poosie Nancy’s Club, Inverclyde Speakers Club, and from a very recent visit in May 2023 to RBNA in Canada, is now a member and ambassador for Medicine Hat Burns Club, Alberta.

Burns Clubs are all very different and diverse and Jean believes that is what makes the Robert Burns World Federation so special..