James Kinnear

James Kinnear

Doctor of Commerce

James S. Kinnear graduated with his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Toronto and holds a C.F.A. designation. He worked in the securities industry in Toronto, Montreal, and London, England before founding Pengrowth Management Limited in 1982 and later Pengrowth Energy Trust in 1988, which branch offices located in Calgary, Halifax, Toronto and New York.

Kinnear is committed to post-secondary education, a fact clearly illustrated by the establishment of the Pengrowth Nova Scotia Energy Scholarship Program in 2005.

The program is a partnership between Pengrowth and the Province of Nova Scotia that sees as many as 19 scholarship and research grants awarded annually to Nova Scotian students pursuing education and careers in the energy sector.

Pengrowth Management and Pengrowth Energy have donated $2 million to the fund, and the province has contributed an additional $1 million. Thus far, approximately 40 students have benefited from the program since its inception.

In addition, Pengrowth funding has created Professorships in petroleum financial management at Saint Mary?s University.

Kinnear currently serves and has served on a number of boards and committees, including former Governor of the Canadian Association Petroleum Producers; former Director of Calgary Chamber of Commerce; Director of the National Arts Centre Foundation Board and Chair of Pengrowth Rockyview General Hospital Invitational Golf Tournament and director for the Banff Centre.

He has received the Ernst & Young Prairies Regional Entrepreneur of the Year Award (2001); Alberta Centennial Medal in recognition of outstanding service to the people and province of Alberta (2005); Calgary?s Consumers Choice Awards for Business Man of the Year (2006); the prestigious Fraser Milner Casgrain Pinnacle Award for entrepreneurship and community service (2007); and Alberta Venture?s Business person of the Year (2007) for accomplishments both in and out of business.

The honorary degree from Saint Mary?s recognizes James Kinnear?s commitment to post-secondary education, his leadership in financial management, entrepreneurship, and his continued dedication to community service.