After the departure of long-term Community Foundation stalwart, Stuart Gunn, earlier in the year, we’ve had a bit of a change-up! Check out the new faces of the HKRU Community Foundation below…

Ng Chi Ho, Peter

Head of Community Inclusive Participation

 Peter started his rugby career as a participant of the Youth Rugby team at our Operation Breakthrough programme when he was just 15 years old. He described the experience as ‘fun, exciting, and provision of a new horizon’. Prior to this Peter played basketball and football, but he fell in love with rugby because it was so different and was able to positively impact him during what he describes as his ‘growth stage’. His teammates, coaches and social workers have been a life-long influence from this stage forth.

At age 18, Peter started his rugby coaching career and registered with the HKRU Community Department as a part-time coach. Since then, his coaching evolved and was then granted a full-time position managing school programmes and developing school competitions. Through Peter’s commitment and dedication, the past 11 years have seen impressive growth in the attendance and competitiveness of school competitions.

Peter has now turned his hand to the Community Foundation, where he is able to apply both is coaching and organisational skills to children and adults from a diverse range of backgrounds. He looks forward to embracing the role and bringing positive impact and change to our community.

Great to have you on board, Peter!

Emmy Chan

Community Foundation Accounts Manager

Mum of 2 Emmy first participated in rugby in a Summer Course back in 2000 and hasn’t stopped since!

As one of the first full time rugby players at the HKSI, Emmy competed for both the Women’s National 15s and 7s teams from U19s to Senior Level.

Once her name was known, Emmy was selected as a Committee Member of Gai Wu Rugby Club and became instrumental in developing the Ladies Rugby team there – during her 10 years on the committee the ladies team grew from 8 to over 100 players!

Emmy has also been instrumental in the growth of the Women’s Game at the HKRU, working alongside Sam Feausi to grow the awareness and participation in the Women and Girls game.

In her latest challenge, Emmy has transitioned to the HKRU Community Foundation as an Account Manager, ensuring all 22 programmes are delivered and developed to bring positive change to the community.

The Community Foundation department is certainly in good hands with Emmy!

James Owens

Jockey Club Rugby United Project Manager

Having started playing rugby in Hong Kong at just 5 years old, James used the opportunity to develop, travel and learn more about new cultures. He remarks that the positive experiences he gained through engagement with rugby (and sport more widely) has developed his passion for utilising sport as a vehicle to provide children with opportunities to learn and grow.

James’ particular interest is in programming that focuses on supporting children and youth in disadvantaged communities to face the significant challenges associated with poverty and inequality. Most recently, this interest has seen him work with ChildFund Pass It Back on evidenced-based Sport for Development projects across Asia.

Based in Laos, James’ role with the program was focused on ensuring program quality, overseeing new country start-ups, and managing the program’s monitoring and evaluation processes - a skillset that he hopes to bring to his new position with the HKRU Community Foundation.

He has now returned home to Hong Kong to manage Jockey Club Rugby United, a peace building project that uses rugby as a tool to deliver important life skills content focussed on developing positive social relationships between children from different backgrounds within our community.

We look forward to a new chapter of HKRU Community Foundation with you on the team, James!