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Durham alumnus Yuk Chi Chan receives British Council alumni award

29 May 2026
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Yuk Chi Chan

Yuk Chi Chan (Law, College of St Hild and St Bede, 2016-2019), has been named the United States national winner for Business and Innovation at the prestigious British Council Study UK Alumni Awards, recognising his entrepreneurial leadership and impact on the global space sector. Yuk Chi came to Durham after serving with the Singapore Army Engineers, choosing to study law at Durham because of its reputation for academic excellence and its distinctive collegiate experience.

Legal insight, engineering knowledge and entrepreneurial thinking 

After graduating and subsequently establishing South East Asia’s first dedicated space law practice, Yuk Chi identified a growing industry challenge: fragmented and inconsistent data was creating inefficiencies and increasing operational risk across complex space programmes. 

In response, he founded Charter, the world’s first financial technology platform designed specifically for the space industry, working with leading institutions including NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the US Space Force and major global insurers, positioning itself at the forefront of innovation in the commercial space economy. 

His work demonstrates how legal insight, engineering knowledge and entrepreneurial thinking can combine to drive meaningful change in one of the world’s most advanced sectors. 

Maintaining close connections 

Alongside his professional accomplishments, Yuk Chi remains closely connected to Durham. He regularly returns as a visiting lecturer and mentor, sharing his experience with current students and supporting the next generation of leaders in law, technology and innovation. He credits his time at the University with developing the critical thinking, adaptability and interdisciplinary perspective that have underpinned his varied career across engineering, law and space technology. 

The British Council Study UK Alumni Awards 

The Awards celebrate the achievements of outstanding international graduates who have used their UK education to make a positive impact in their fields and communities. The awards recognise individuals across several categories, including Business and Innovation, Science and Sustainability, Culture and Creativity, and Social Action, as well as national winners in countries around the world. 

We warmly congratulate Yuk Chi Chan on this outstanding achievement and is proud to celebrate his success as part of our global alumni community. 

Find out more 

Durham University takes pride in the achievements and contributions of its 230,000 alumni and supporters. Stories that cite views, talks and published work reflect the individual’s contribution in their personal or professional capacity and do not represent the University’s position or endorsement.