University of Sydney Beta Alpha Psi team sweeps international awards

Beta Alpha Psi (BAP) is an international honours organisation for accounting, finance, business analytics or digital technology students and professionals with a vision to develop members into ethical, professional, and confident leaders.

At this year's virtual Annual Meeting, Sydney BAP representatives were announced as winners of the Gold Challenge, putting them in the top 3% of BAP chapters globally for the fourth consecutive year.

Student members of the Sydney BAP chapter also won a number of competitions including the Best Practices Innovation category, Project Run With It, the first round of the EY Inclusive Leadership Award and the Grant Thornton Ethics Semi-finals.

The Sydney team was represented at the Annual Meeting by Co-Presidents Lily Zheng and Dhivyen Aaron and the executive team of Richard Fitzgerald, Elishbah Amer, Rhys Jennings, Samuel Hain, Jake Magro, Jarrod Chisholm, Jeff Brown and Alex Zhao.

Janine Coupe, the Sydney BAP chapter's Faculty Advisor, attributes the team's success to their strong multi-disciplinary skillsets and interpersonal connections.

"In March I set the students a challenge: either go home and wait for the situation to improve, or take the opportunity to innovate and show who you are as future leaders," Janine says. "Their success proves that not only did they take the challenge, they excelled!"

Janine's own innovative leadership was recognised with an Outstanding Faculty Advisor award, given to faculty advisors who go above and beyond the requirements of the role. Her nomination was supported by each of the chapter's presidents and vice presidents for the five years of her tenure as Faculty Advisor.

Sydney BAP Co-Presidents Lily Zheng and Dhivyen Aaron say Janine's endless support, energy and ideas are crucial to the chapter's success and inspiration.

"Janine does everything to ensure we are supported and confident to make an impact on our members and community," Lily and Dhivyen say.

The success of the Sydney BAP chapter carries a special significance in a year of unforeseen challenges, its co-presidents say.

"We are feeling so proud of our whole team, the continued resilience, passion and creativity everyone has showed this year. We could not be more excited to have been awarded and recognised for our achievements, especially during these complicated times."

Full list of awards

• 2020 Gold Challenge: The University of Sydney, Lambda Omega chapter
• Best Practices (Innovation): Sam Hain and Elishbah Amer, The University of Sydney, Lambda Omega chapter
• Project Run With It: Team C4 including Richard FitzGerald, The University of Sydney, Lambda Omega chapter
• Grant Thornton Ethics Semifinalists: The University of Sydney, Lambda Omega chapter and University of Technology Sydney, Upsilon Tau Sigma chapter
• EY Inclusive Leadership Award First Round Winners: The University of Sydney, Lambda Omega chapter
• Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award: Janine Coupe, The University of Sydney, Lambda Omega chapter