Two top graduates from the School of Economics were among those recognised with 2020 University of Queensland Alumni Awards.
International banking and finance leader Paul Compton was honoured with a Vice-Chancellor’s Alumni Excellence Award, while 2019 alumnus and Valedictorian Josephine Auer received the UQ Graduate of the Year Award.
These awards recognise alumni who have accomplished outstanding success in their field and who have made exemplary contributions to their community.
Congratulations to Mr Compton and Ms Auer:
Vice Chancellor’s Alumni Excellence Award
Mr Paul Compton
Bachelor of Economics 1986; Bachelor of Commerce 1984
“To be a great leader you need to lead with both your head and your heart.”
Mr Paul Compton is a leading professional in international banking and finance with over 30 years' experience in the industry. Mr Compton now resides in New York City and divides his time between New York and London.
In his early career, Mr Compton spent 10 years at Ernst & Young in the Brisbane and New York offices.
After Ernst & Young, Mr Compton spent 20 years as an executive with JPMorgan Chase and Co. His roles included Investment Bank Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer.
As President of Barclays Bank Plc, Mr Compton is responsible for overseeing the Corporate and Investment Bank, which comprises Global Banking, Markets and Corporate Banking businesses. He is also accountable for delivering strategic projects across our wholesale businesses, embedding key partnerships, and driving success with our biggest and most important clients.
Prior to his appointment as President of BBPLC in March 2019, he served as Barclays Group Chief Operating Officer, and as Chief Executive Officer of Barclays Execution Services (BX), delivering operations and technology services to Barclays businesses globally.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr Compton worked with the Barclays CEO, Jes Staley, to launch The Barclays Foundation. The foundation provides philanthropic support to vulnerable people affected by COVID-19 to lessen the social and economic fallout of the crisis.
Mr Compton is very generous with his time, having held a number of volunteer positions for UQ including serving on the Board of Directors for The University of Queensland in America Inc. (TUQIA) Board, the committee for the inaugural UQ Rugby Benefit Dinner in New York and as a member of the UQ Faculty of Business, Economics and Law Alumni Ambassador Council.
UQ Graduate of the Year (award created by Alumni Friends)
Ms Josephine Auer
Bachelor of Advanced Finance and Economics (Hons) 2019
“Look at challenges as opportunities rather than difficulties and never lose sight of what really matters in life; it’s always exciting to accomplish big goals, but using those accomplishments to give back, lift others, and create positive change is truly the greatest reward of all.”
Ms Josephine Auer graduated from a Bachelor of Advanced Finance and Economics with Honours Class I and the University Medal (2019).
While maintaining a perfect GPA of 7, Ms Auer simultaneously trained at an elite level in athletics, competing in the Commonwealth Games Trials for 1500m Track in Field in 2018.
During her undergraduate studies, she gained industry experience with internships at the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), and leading finance firms including QIC, Morgans and Synergies Economic Consulting.
She has been committed to giving back to others by mentoring younger students and addressing her graduating cohort as Valedictorian.
She is currently a research assistant at the School of Economics where her focus is on environmental public policy projects. She is currently studying a Bachelor of Mathematics in preparation to further her career with a PhD in Economics.
See the full list of 2020 UQ Alumni Award recipients.
Contact: BEL Communications, media@bel.uq.edu.au
