"Born in Dunedin on 7 October 1886, Jean Begg was educated at Otago University, Dunedin Training College, and the New York School of Social Work. With a wide experience of welfare work for women, she has devoted herself particularly to the YWCA, being General Secretary in Auckland, 1926–31, National General Secretary of the organisation in India, Burma, and Ceylon, and then Head Warden of Helen Graham House, YWCA, London, 1949–51. She was director of YWCA services in the Middle East and Orient, 1940–48, and of later years has been an active organiser of CORSO. She received M.B.E., 1942; O.B.E., 1944; and C.B.E., 1947." (An Encyclopedia of New Zealand 1966 (AH McLintock)