James Bawtree (Jim) Webb, OBE (1929–2009) was influential in shaping Australia's international relations and overseas aid programs during the 1950s, 60s and 70s.
This contributed a major social justice streak to Webb's origins and to his lifelong views on politics and society.
From his mother and aunt he gained a love of language, enquiry and learning; and from his father extraordinary social and organisational skills.
In 1948 he became involved with the United Nations Appeal for Children and the UN Relief and Rehabilitation Administration, although he was also working as a paint salesman from 1947 through 1950.
Webb studied accountancy at the Hemmingway Robertson Institute in 1949, and in 1950, while leaving on a trip to Calcutta and Oberammergau, he learned he had won a United Nations International Essay contest, entitling him to a fellowship to represent Australia at the yearly assemblies of the World Federation of United Nations Associations in Geneva and to study at the UN general assembly in New York.
After leaving the Overseas Service Bureau, Webb was director of the Social and Cultural Division, Asian and Pacific Council (ASPAC) Cultural and Social Centre for the Asia and Pacific Region, Seoul, until 1970, the same year he was awarded his Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to International Affairs.
But in 1997, Webb was hospitalised with acute goitre, and spent 10 days in intensive care, the start of twelve years of debilitating ill–health.
Webb always maintained that the volunteers who went to Asia, Africa and the Pacific contributed far more to Australian society than they did to their host countries.