A fixture on the sidelines of Queen's football and rugby matches with a camera pointed towards the action, longtime Gaels supporter Jeff Chan has been appointed by the Board of the Canadian Rugby Foundation to the role of Foundation Executive Director. 

The new role comes as Chan has been a key figure in recent years in University Rugby's development in Canada. He is currently the Chair and Co-founder of the Canadian University Men's Rugby Championship and Chairs Rugby Canada's U SPORTS Applications Committee.

"My goal at the Canadian Rugby Foundation is to help the Foundation realize its great potential," says Jeff Chan on his new challenge. "I feel it is largely untapped by the Canadian Rugby community - including local clubs, provincial unions, and university rugby programs, largely through a lack of exposure and education. The benefits of establishing an endowment fund from which returns can be withdrawn to fund annual operating expenses and scholarships are hardly a secret to universities which have significant capital in their endowment funds from alumni and corporate donations. One of my key challenges is to unlock the alchemy whereby rugby clubs, teams and programs can do the same - through tax-deductible donations into the Foundation, and tax-free disbursements once sufficient assets are accumulated. The fact that the Canadian Rugby Foundation provides 25% matching of incoming funds to a maximum of $20K should be a great inducement for rugby organizations to set up a fund within the CRF. In addition, for the rugby initiatives that the Foundation supports, such as the Men's and Women's Canadian Club Championships, and the Canadian University Men's Rugby Championship which will be hosted by Queen's November 24-28, I'll be providing ongoing support to help ensure each is successful in its own right."

In this new role, Jeff will be primarily responsible for the growth of the Foundation's portfolio of funds – through the establishment of new and the expansion of existing funds. These funds include those sponsored by local rugby clubs across Canada, university men's and women's programs, specific teams and programs such as Canada's Senior Women, U20 Men's, and Hong Kong Sevens, scholarship funds set up for specific capital projects or events.

He will also provide support to specific Foundation fund-raising initiatives and to sponsored rugby events such as the Men's and Women's Canada Rugby Club Championships and the Canadian University Men's Rugby Championship. 

A graduate of Queen's University (BA) and the University of Western Ontario (MBA), Jeff currently resides in Kingston, Ontario. He will perform his role remotely, travelling as needed.