John Jones holds a PhD in Physics from the University of Wales and a Master of Education from the University of Malawi. Following appointments at the Universities of Wales, Malawi and Papua New Guinea, he was appointed as the foundation Director of the Higher Education Research Office (HERO) at the University of Auckland in 1974. By 1976 there were four “academic development units” established in New Zealand and John hosted the first meeting of university higher education research officers at the University of Auckland in April 1976. 

In his 20 years at the University of Auckland John established himself as a major influence in higher education in Auckland and the rest of New Zealand, until he temporarily left New Zealand to become Director of Educational Development, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, a post he held for seven years. 

John was a principal driver behind the formation of the New Zealand branch of HERDSA. Having attended the conferences of the fledgling society in Australia John (along with others) organised a two day meeting of interested people in the (then) Auckland Technical Institute and the NZ branch was born. In 1985 John coconvened the first HERDSA conference to be held outside Australia. He took up the convenorship of the Auckland chapter at that time and in 1987 became the New Zealand “President”. John served on the HERDSA Executive from 1989–1994, becoming the HERDSA President in 1992 – a post he held for two years.