"I went right through university intending to become a research physicist, but when I finished my final exam I had a rush of blood to the head and applied for a couple of jobs with the Commonwealth Public Service," Paul says. "It set me off in a completely different direction."
Pursuing opportunities that interest him, rather than the status that attends seniority and substantial salaries, became a common thread throughout his professional life.
"I remember in 1974 I was working in the Federal Treasury, which in those days was very prestigious and well-paying, and I came to a fork in the road," Paul says.
"I applied for and was offered two jobs - a promotion within the Treasury and another in energy policy in the Department of Minerals and Energy.
"I made a decision that many people thought was crazy, taking what in salary terms and ranking was the more junior energy job because I felt it was more me and attuned to my interests, drawing on my background in physics and economics.
"I have never regretted it. In fact, it was the start of many rewarding years there and later in the Department of Trade, where I conducted bilateral trade negotiations in more than 60 countries."
Being true to yourself is an axiom Paul lives by.
"You can't be someone you're not," he says.
"It's very stressful doing something if your heart's not in it, just because it pays well.
"You only have one life and there's a lot more to life than your salary."
Contributing to the development of others is one of them. "One of the most important things you can do as a senior in any organisation is to mentor those around you," Paul says. "Hopefully you have something to teach them, and I've learned just as much from the people I've mentored as I've passed on to them. Helping others to realise their potential is probably the only true lasting legacy you can have, and it can be fun."
During a career that has taken him into boardrooms all over the world, Paul has taken a straightforward approach to career progression. "I've always sought to do things that I feel a genuine commitment to," he says. "I've never been one to spend time looking for my next move; instead, I concentrated on doing the job at hand as diligently and honestly as I could. If you do your job well, sooner or later something will happen."
