Paul Koch is an engineer, community volunteer and an alumnus of the University of Waterloo, where he was among the first engineering graduates at the school, and community volunteer. He studied Chemical Engineering and received a Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc) in 1963 and a Master of Applied Science (MASc) in 1964. Koch spent most of his professional career working for IBM and retired in 1992.

During his time as a student, Koch was an active member of campus life. He served as the first B Term Engineering President of the Engineering Society (1958-1959), Students’ Council Co-President (1961-62), the co-chairman of the Jackets Committee in 1962, and a member of the Senate (1964-66). Later in his career, he served as a member of the University of Waterloo Board of Governors (1989-1995), UW National Alumni Council (1987-1993), including a term as president (1989-1991), and the Dean's advisory council for the Faculty of Engineering (1994-1998) and the Faculty of Environment (2006-2012).

Outside of Waterloo, Koch has played a similarly active role in community life in southwestern and eastern Ontario. He served in various board and administrative roles as a member of the Burlington Family YMCA (1965-72); the Greater Hamilton YMCA (1967-72); the National Council of YMCAs of Canada (1968-73); the Sarnia YM/YWCA (1972-76); and the North York Family YM/YWCA (1976-1980). In Ottawa, he held various roles with the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, the Riverside Hospital of Ottawa Foundation, Ottawa-Carleton Economic Development Corporation, and the City of Ottawa Environmental Advisory Committee. He has also worked with Sarnia Rotary Club (1972-1976), the Software Human Resource Council (1992-1995), the Major Industrial Accidents Council of Canada, Enviro Centre, and rare Charitable Research Reserve.

Koch has been recognized several times for his long-standing commitment to campus and community service. He received the Province of Ontario Volunteer Service Award in 1992, the University of Waterloo Faculty of Engineering Alumni Achievement Medal in 1998, the City of Ottawa Certificate of Appreciation in 2005, and the University of Waterloo 50th Anniversary Alumni Award in 2007.