2010
Evening Host - Keynote Speaker
James S. Kinnear, CFA, DComm (Hon)

Chairman Emeritus – Pengrowth Corporation

President & CEO – Kinnear Financial Limited

As Founder of Pengrowth Energy Trust, Mr. Kinnear has been responsible for providing the vision and leadership to one of North America’s longest standing, largest and most successful Canadian energy royalty trusts.

Formed in 1988 with a $12.5 million value, Pengrowth Energy Trust has grown to an enterprise value of approximately $4.3 billion and is supported by a team of more than 640 people based in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Nova Scotia, London UK and New York USA.  Since inception, Pengrowth has completed more than 50 acquisitions with a total value of over $5 billion, and has evolved into a major oil and natural gas producer, providing an average annual compound rate of return of 13.9 percent. 

Mr. Kinnear graduated from the University of Toronto in 1969 with a B.Sc. degree and in 1979 earned the right to use CFA designation from the CFA Institute former AIMR (Charlottesville, Virginia USA).  Prior to founding Pengrowth Management Limited in 1982, he was a partner in a Montreal-based securities firm.

Mr. Kinnear is proud of Pengrowth’s support for community-based organizations, including, The Pengrowth-Nova Scotia Energy Scholarship program; local Chambers of Commerce; local health initiatives; The Pengrowth Rockyview Invitational – Canada’s largest fundraising golf tournament, raising over $1 million annually ($9 million to date); and as naming sponsor of the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta.

Personally, Mr. Kinnear has made the largest individual donation in the history of The Banff Centre to create The Kinnear Centre for Creativity & Innovation; is a major supporter of medical research; lead the charge (as a lead sponsor) to secure the financial future of The Canadian Open; and, as its National Benefactor, is the largest single donor to The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in Canada.

Mr. Kinnear serves on a number of Boards and Committees, including: The Banff Centre Board of Governors; The Canadian Council of Chief Executives; The Canadian Olympic Foundation; The National Arts Centre Foundation Board; The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Charter for Business Board of Governors; The Rockyview General Hospital Development Council; and as a Past Director of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce; and Past Governor of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers.

Mr. Kinnear has received the Ernst & Young Prairies Region Entrepreneur of the year Award (2001); the Alberta Centennial medal in recognition of outstanding service to the people and province of Alberta (2005); Calgary’s Consumers Choice Awards for Businessman of the Year (2006); the Fraser Milner Casgrain Pinnacle Award for entrepreneurship and community service (2007); Alberta Venture’s Business Person of the Year (2007); The Paul Harris Fellowship from Rotary International (2008); The Royal Canadian Golf Association Distinguished Service Award (2008); and an Honorary Doctorate of Commerce from Saint Mary’s University in Halifax (2009).