Jean is from South Africa. Ten years ago Jean was selected to participate in a South African youth peace and conflict program which set her on a path to promote ways to support young people to actively participate in the attainment of good governance in their countries.

Jean realized, while working in 15 African countries to secure the ratification of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance, that governance challenges were essentially universal and that social accountability is key to achieving social and economic liberation.

Jean has worked as a public affairs and democratic governance specialist in the United States, the United Kingdom and Southern Africa for Rotary, the UK Foreign Office, the Westminster Foundation and Voluntary Services Overseas.

She has a masters degree in conflict resolution in divided societies from Kings College in London as a British Chevening scholar and a bachelor’s in law and international relations from the University of Cape Town. She also served as a sub-Saharan analyst for the Freedom House Freedom in the World index.