Jane Foss Barff (née Russell) (24 October 1863 – 10 June 1937) was the second woman to attain a Master of Arts from the University of Sydney.

She had a long lasting academic career which began in her school years; she passed the Junior Public Examination and received the Fairfax prize for the best female student in 1878.

[2] Three years later she sat for the Senior Public Examination in eight subjects, and passed with first class honours, again sharing the prize for the best female pupil.

[2] After completing secondary college, she spent the next year at home because the university she wished to study at did not accept women.

Although women were still unable to participate in courses such as medicine because the discussion of the human body was deemed not an appropriate topic.

Jane Foss Barff was also a strong advocate for religious education for young people, and was a council member of the Mothers' Union and of the St Catherine's Church of England School for Girls.

[5] Jane Foss Barff died on 10 June 1937 in her Rose Bay home, and was later buried in the Waverley cemetery.