Annual Alumni Prize to Drive Impact in South-East Asia

Essex alumnus Charles Malcolm-Brown has established a new annual £500 prize in the Department of Government. The award will recognise work that helps some of the poorest communities in South-East Asia, whether through research, projects, or initiatives that make a real difference. 

Giving back

“I am exceptionally proud to be an Essex graduate, postgraduate, former Fellow of the Department and Visiting Fellow of the  Institute for Democracy and Conflict Resolution (IDCR). My time at Essex turned me from a quirky, intelligent but non-engineered thinker into an altogether more effective and impactful person. I miss my mentors – Tony King, Ernesto Laclau, Michael Freeman, Bob Jessop, and others.

"I will never forget the insights they shared, nor my experience. I want to give back to my Alma Mater some of the advantages, insights, and experiences I have garnered from then and in the decades since.”

Essex and beyond

Charles’ journey to Essex was anything but conventional. Leaving school without qualifications, he worked in a factory before returning to education as a mature student. After completing A levels, he earned his first degree in Government from the University of Essex, later completing an MA in British Politics under Professor Tony King.

His career spans academia, business, and humanitarian work, from teaching at the University of Cambridge and University of Essex to founding charities like The Mountain Trust and Flight from Plight, which support education, health, and human rights in Nepal and Afghanistan.

Charles’ commitment to the region stems from decades of hands-on work. Through The Mountain Trust, he has delivered medical aid to rural Nepal, rebuilt villages after earthquakes, and supported genetic research to combat hypoxia. His latest initiative, Flight from Plight, helps Afghans targeted by the Taliban to escape persecution and supports vulnerable communities in Kabul.

Making a difference

“What I’m hoping to achieve with this annual prize is to single out and reward the student, researcher, or faculty member whose work has the greatest impact on helping Afghans, Nepalis, and the poorest people in Southeast Asia each year. The work must have practical application(s).”

This prize reflects Charles’ belief in the Essex spirit of impact and community. By rewarding practical solutions, he hopes to inspire students to turn ideas into action and make a tangible difference where it’s needed most.

The first prize will be awarded in the 2026/27 academic year.