The University of Nottingham Malaysia (UNM) Honorary Professor of Sustainable Business, Timothy Edward Gocher, has recently been appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2022 Queen’s Birthday Honours list for his services to the British investment and economic development in Nepal.

An OBE is a special honours given to people who have made a significant contribution to the arts, science, medicine or the government over a long period of time.

Professor Gocher is the founder of Dolma Impact Fund, a private equity and impact fund management company that invests in renewable energy, healthcare and technology companies in Nepal. Currently, Dolma Impact Fund has two active funds managing a total of RM382.28 million ($87 million), providing sustainable, quality employment for almost 10,000 people in Nepal through their investments.

Professor Gocher is also an honorary professor at Nottingham University Business School (NUBS) Malaysia and an active researcher in the area of environmental, social and governance (ESG) investments and their impact on anti-corruption measures and institutional reform in least-developed countries. Aside from that, Professor Gocher also guest lectures to MBA students as well as presents seminars with UNM’s collaborative partners including UN Global Compact Network Malaysia & Brunei (UNGCMYB).

“My association with NUBS Malaysia since my appointment in 2014 was always a natural fit. NUBS was among the first UK business schools to champion the UN Principles of Responsible Management Education (UN PRME) with NUBS Malaysia being the only school in Southeast Asia/ASEAN to have UN PRME Champion status. Meanwhile, I was building a sustainable impact investment fund manager focused on Nepal. This has enabled me to bring back an investor’s perspective to my lectures and research at NUBS Malaysia as well as with the School's collaborative partners,” Professor Gocher said.

“Receiving the OBE feels like recognition not only for my work, but also of our shared belief that building sustainability and impact into the heart of businesses is essential if we are to tackle humanity’s biggest challenges. It is certainly something I could not have achieved with the support of my wife Pooja,” Professor Gocher added.

Professor Gocher received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Nottingham in 2019. In 2020, he was elected a Governor of the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust in the United Kingdom. He is also the founder and Chairman of Dolma Foundation, a UK charity funding education for the poorest and most marginalised children in Nepal.

UNM Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences Dean and NUBS Malaysia Interim Dean Dr. Jason Pandya-Wood expressed his delight at Professor Gocher’s achievement. “Tim's commitment to sustainable business is evident through his company's choice of investments and in his work with our students and staff. We are very proud to count him amongst our Honorary academics and look forward to our continuing relationship with him. Congratulations, Tim!”.

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