John Lascelles Jenner Wilson was born in New Zealand and graduated from Auckland University (BA) in 1934. Wilson was involved in the Workers’ Educational Association in New Zealand and came to Australia on an appointment as Director of Tutorial Classes at the University of Sydney, a position he held from the 1950s to 1960s. He was involved in the formation of the Association of Adult Education in 1960. From 1965-1968 he held the position of Officer in Charge, Department of Adult Education at the Australian National University. During this time Wilson became involved with the development of an independent education authority for the Australian Capital Territory and was convenor of the working party which helped establish the ACT Education Authority on 1 January 1977.