{"id":"chris-donovan","version":1,"language":"en","title":"Chris Donovan","hidden":false,"content":"**Chris Donovan** is a Chief Operating Officer (COO) and General Council at the NEAR Foundation, a Swiss-based non-profit supporting the ongoing growth and development of the [NEAR Protocol](https://iq.wiki/wiki/near-protocol). [\\[1\\]](#cite-id-lxpo5l2905d)[\\[2\\]](#cite-id-gwt8n1v3knk)  \n$$widget0 [YOUTUBE@VID](CFAYKjEiPjg)$$  \n  \n# Education  \n  \nDonovan attended the University of Cambridge where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Natural Sciences (BA (Hons), M.Sci) in Natural Sciences. Prior to that, he attended BPP Law School for a Legal Practitioner's Course, Law. [\\[1\\]](#cite-id-lxpo5l2905d)  \n  \n# Career  \n  \nChris Donovan began his career as a Trainee Solicitor at MACFARLANES LLP from 2013 to 2015. Afterward, he joined the Founding Team at 7bridges and served as a Legal Counsel until 2020. [\\[1\\]](#cite-id-lxpo5l2905d)  \n  \nIn April 2020, he joined [web3](https://iq.wiki/wiki/web3) accelerator, Outlier Ventures as a Head of Legal and was promoted to Partner, Head of Legal & Commercial Director in 2022. Donovan also serves as a Senior Advisor at Charecroft Management & Investment (CMIL). [\\[3\\]](#cite-id-8g79id3lc1)  \n  \n## NEAR Foundation  \n  \nDonovan joined the [NEAR Foundation](https://iq.wiki/wiki/near-protocol) in September 2023 following the stepdown of former CEO Marieke Flament. Chris Donovan temporarily took her place while she remained on the board. [\\[4\\]](#cite-id-947cqb39k4s)  \n  \nHe was also appointed as General Council for the NEAR Foundation Council. The NEAR Foundation Council (NFC) is the governing body of the NEAR Foundation (similar to a board of directors) which is responsible for ultimate control and oversight of NF and making significant decisions for the organization. The NFC is separate from the NF’s executive team, which is empowered by the NFC to manage the NF’s day-to-day operations and reports back to the NFC (and seeks NFC approval where necessary for significant decisions). [\\[5\\]](#cite-id-b1v1oq5rai4)  \n  \nDonovan serves as the Chief Operating Officer COO) for NEAR Foundation overseeing day-to-day operations, implementing strategies, and ensuring operational efficiency to meet foundation goals. [\\[1\\]](#cite-id-lxpo5l2905d)[\\[2\\]](#cite-id-gwt8n1v3knk)[\\[5\\]](#cite-id-b1v1oq5rai4)  \n$$widget0 [YOUTUBE@VID](nB3QV9hOQIw)$$  \n  \n<br>  \n<br>  \n<br>  \n<br>  \n ","summary":"Chris Donovan is the COO and General Counsel at the NEAR Foundation, involved in the NEAR Protocol's growth.","categories":[{"id":"people","title":"people"}],"promoted":0,"tags":[{"id":"PeopleInDeFi"}],"metadata":[{"id":"references","value":"[{\"id\":\"lxpo5l2905d\",\"url\":\"https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-donovan-3640a2171/?originalSubdomain=uk\",\"description\":\"linkedin profile\",\"timestamp\":1718877334895},{\"id\":\"gwt8n1v3knk\",\"url\":\"https://x.com/chrisdonearvan\",\"description\":\"X profile\",\"timestamp\":1718877439624},{\"id\":\"8g79id3lc1\",\"url\":\"https://blockworks.co/speaker/chris-donovan\",\"description\":\"Blockworks speaker profile\",\"timestamp\":1718877881626},{\"id\":\"947cqb39k4s\",\"url\":\"https://www.coindesk.com/business/2023/09/21/near-foundations-marieke-flament-steps-down-as-ceo/\",\"description\":\"NEAR Foundation’s Marieke Flament Steps Down as CEO\",\"timestamp\":1718878265157},{\"id\":\"b1v1oq5rai4\",\"url\":\"https://near.foundation/\",\"description\":\"near foundation\",\"timestamp\":1718878505407}]"},{"id":"website","value":"https://near.foundation/"},{"id":"twitter_profile","value":"https://x.com/chrisdonearvan"},{"id":"linkedin_profile","value":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-donovan-3640a2171/?originalSubdomain=uk"}],"user":{"id":"0x212Cb3F4aE6611054637f9f78F18fB628AD258bb"},"author":{"id":""},"media":[{"name":"CFAYKjEiPjg","size":0,"id":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFAYKjEiPjg","source":"YOUTUBE"},{"name":"nB3QV9hOQIw","size":0,"id":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nB3QV9hOQIw","source":"YOUTUBE"}],"views":0,"events":[],"linkedWikis":{"founders":[],"blockchains":[],"speakers":[]},"images":[{"id":"Qmdj7tpCrSG3cw4acLV5W4xmZpSRjcy2XFDC1kVTKgHuFM","type":"image/jpeg, image/png"}]}