Social Impact Award for R.AGE editor
THE editor of Star Media Group’s award-winning R.AGE investigative team, Ian Yee, is among three Malaysians recognised by the British Council for their outstanding achievements.
The recipients of the Study UK Alumni Awards 2021 in Malaysia were announced during a virtual ceremony in Kuala Lumpur on March 16.
The UK alumni in Malaysia were recognised for their outstanding achievements as business professionals, entrepreneurs and community leaders, and for their important contribution to strengthening collaborative ties between the UK and Malaysia.
The Social Impact Award, which acknowledges alumni who have made an exceptional contribution to creating positive social change, was presented to Yee, a graduate of Liverpool John Moores University.
Yee said he was glad that the British Council decided to recognise a journalist for this award, particularly in the social impact category, “because – unfairly maligned as they are now – journalists really do play a crucial role in creating positive impact in the world”.
“I’ve been incredibly fortunate to work with journalists at R.AGE who’ve done just that, by taking risks to investigate those who seek to abuse power and giving a voice to those who need one; so this award is dedicated to them and the courage they’ve shown over the years, ” he said.
Yee is an investigative and impact journalist whose works have won nearly 40 awards in journalism, activism, filmmaking, and digital marketing.
He is a national consultant for Unicef Malaysia on empathy education programmes; an Obama Foundation Leader; an Acumen Fellow; a Gen-T honouree; a Human Rights Measurement Initiative ambassador; and the Environmental Reporting Collective executive director.
The prestigious international award celebrates UK higher education and the achievements of UK alumni all over the world.
Now in its seventh year, the award received more than 1,300 applications from international UK alumni in more than 114 countries, representing more than 148 UK higher education institutions across the UK.
British Council (Malaysia) director Jazreel Goh said the awards celebrate those contributions and demonstrate the impact of a UK education — not just on individuals, but also on the communities they live in.
“We are proud that the UK has had some part to play in helping these individuals get to where they are today.
“Every year, we look forward to hearing the stories of Malaysian UK alumni who have become examples of professionalism in their chosen careers, alumni who have successfully pursued their entrepreneurial instincts and alumni who have touched and improved the lives of others.”
Charles Hay, British High Commissioner to Malaysia, said over 80,000 Malaysian students have studied a higher education programme in the UK in the past decade.
“The finalists are testament to all the high-quality Malaysian graduates who chose to study in the UK every year.
“These alumni form the bedrock of UK-Malaysia relations, building long-lasting links and mutually beneficial relationships between both our countries, ” he said.This was the first time the Alumni Awards was hosted virtually in Malaysia, being the first country to host the awards this year.
This event will be followed by awarding ceremonies in eight other countries, including India, Kazakhstan, and Qatar.
