Austin immigrated to the U.S. from Guyana in 1977. He has lived in Lawrenceville for eight years, and he currently lives in the New Hope Subdivision. He has a bachelor's degree in electronic engineering, a bachelor's degree in telecommunications management, a master's degree in business administration and a master's degree in project management from DeVry University. He was on the Downtown Architectural Review Board, the "Move Lawrenceville Forward" Steering Committee, and the Lawrenceville Neighborhood Alliance. He is on the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners Development Advisory Committee.

Austin was an electronic engineer for 17 years, in senior business development for five years, a project manager and coordinator for 25 years, an adjunct professor of business and project management at Shorter University for eight years and a small business consultant for 15 years.

Austin Thompson's campaign for city council is his first entry into politics.