The first woman in 550 years to become Oxford University’s Registrar, Dr Julie Maxton has been presented a Distinguished Alumni Award from Auckland University.

Dr Maxton was, while at Auckland University, Professor of Law from 1993 and Dean of the Law Faculty from 2000. She left Auckland in 2006 to become Registrar at the University of Oxford, where she is now an Honorary Fellow of University College.

Since 2011 Dr Maxton has been Executive Director of the Royal Society of London.

“I never set out to attain any institutional firsts, and I would certainly not like to be the last woman in any of the roles I have held,” she says.

“It’s important to do the very best you can and take opportunities as they come up. In a way it’s a bit like sport, which has always been a big interest in my life. You keep doing your best in every part of the game, whether it is going well for you or not.”

Born in Scotland, Dr Maxton represented Scotland in lacrosse and hockey as a school girl. She won a scholarship to University College in London where she gained an LLB (Hons) and was admitted at Middle Temple. Dr Maxton was appointed to a lectureship at Canterbury University, and after marrying a New Zealander moved to the University of Auckland.

Dr Maxton is also a Trustee of the UK Friends of the University of Auckland and is on the Board of the University’s Creative Thinking Project. She was one of six University of Auckland Distinguished Alumni to receive the award this year.