Malcolm was educated at Kirkby Stephen Grammar School; Newton Rigg; Royal Agricultural College; the University of Birmingham and the College of St Mark & St John.

He spent 11 years as Senior Warden and Lecturer at Bicton College, Devon and five years as Vice-Principal of Duchy College, Cornwall.

He has been Principal/Chief Executive of Hartpury College since 1990, during which time student numbers have grown from 68 in 1991 to 3,164 today. In November 2009, Hartpury College was graded as an ‘outstanding’ college by Ofsted and in 2010 was awarded Beacon College status.

Malcolm was instrumental in establishing the Hartpury Sports Academy, offering sports including: rugby, equine, football, golf, netball, modern pentathlon, rowing.

Malcolm was awarded a CBE for services to Further Education in 2012.