OBE Award for Board Chair

08 January 2016

We're delighted that the Chair of our board, Reverend Professor Kenneth Ross, received an OBE for services to the community in Malawi and to Scottish-Malawi relations.

We're delighted that the Chair of our Board of Directors, Reverend Professor Kenneth Ross, has been awarded an OBE for services to the community in Malawi, and to Scotland-Malawi links.

After teaching at Chancellor College in the University of Malawi from 1988 to 1998, Ken continued his Malawi involvement during his years as General Secretary for World Mission at the Church of Scotland (1998-2009).

From the early 2000s he was much involved in the inception of the Scotland Malawi Partnership and has chaired its Board from 2004 to 2006, and 2010 to the present.

In 2011 he was given the clan name “Ngozo” by Chief Champwiti. Ken has published many books and articles on Malawi, including most recently, Malawi and Scotland: Together in the Talking Place since 1859, (Mzuzu: Mzuni Press, 2013).

Professor Ross said: “This award is a tribute to thousands of Malawians and Scots who together have forged the partnership between our two nations and pioneered a fresh approach to international development. It has been a constantly inspiring experience for me to be part of the social movement in Scotland which has driven the partnership with Malawi to the stage it has now reached.

"The UN’s Global Goals have highlighted the importance of partnership in the battle to defeat poverty. Scotland and Malawi are well-placed to demonstrate a working model. At the same time, I am very far from complacent since I know how much remains to be done before both nations attain their potential. In particular, the urgency of overcoming extreme poverty in Malawi concentrates my mind as I look to the future."

David Hope-Jones, Principal Officer of the Scotland Malawi Partnership said: “A hearty congratulations to Ken. Fantastic to have this recognition for Ken's many years (/decades) of ‎service, and a wonderful way to close a very successful year for the Partnership. Well done, Ken!”

Ken ross2