John Butt was Principal of the Australian College of Physical Education, holds a M.Sc. in Physical Education and Recreation Management from the University of Oregon U.S.A. after completing early teacher training at Sydney. He directed the first Diploma course in Recreation Management in Australia when four students from Thailand attended on King's Scholarships, leading to many later visits to Thailand and his marriage to Kannekar. He started a Montessori school with Kannekar and has been supporting the Thai Montessori Project since its inception. He is a member of Board of Advisor for Montessori Association of Thailand.