Mr. Kinnear graduated from the University of Toronto in 1969 with a B.Sc. degree, received a C.F.A. designation in 1979 and worked in the securities industry in Toronto and London, England and Montreal where he was a partner in a securities firm. In 1980, Kinnear moved to Calgary and founded Kinnear Financial Limited (KFL) and in 1982 founded Pengrowth Management Limited. In 1988 he created Pengrowth Energy Trust, now called Pengrowth Energy Corporation. Until September 2009, he was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Pengrowth Energy Corporation.

Mr. Kinnear was awarded the Ernst and Young, Prairies Region Entrepreneur of the Year award for 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 Honorary Doctorate of Commerce from St. Mary's University, Halifax (2009). He is a member of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives and as the National Benefactor, made the largest single donation to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Program in Canada. In 2012 Kinnear was awarded the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal. Mr. Kinnear is a former member of the Banff Centre Board of Governors, director of the Canadian Olympic Foundation, and the National Arts Centre Foundation Board, director of the Calgary Petroleum Club, and governor of the Oilmen's Golf Tournament. Through Pengrowth Management Limited, Kinnear made a major contribution to the Calgary Flames Hockey organization including the naming rights to the Saddledome from 2000 – 2010. In 2005, he initiated the Pengrowth Nova Scotia Scholarship program which provides scholarships to post secondary students in Nova Scotia. Kinnear was the hosting sponsor for the Kinnear Classic Golf Tournament which raised in excess of $10 million over 20 years for much needed equipment for the Rockyview Hospital. Kinnear also personally made the largest individual donation in the history of The Banff Centre to create The Kinnear Centre for Creativity & Innovation which opened in 2010.