Jamie Kindred

Jamie Kindred is a Canadian business leader and technologist with a deep personal connection to The Gairdner Foundation, as a great-grandson of its founder, James Gairdner. Recently appointed as a Director, Jamie is honoured to support the Foundation’s mission and is currently serving on both the Audit Committee and the Investment Committee. He looks forward to contributing to the Foundation’s governance and long-term sustainability, with a personal interest in advancing its legacy and impact.

Jamie is the co-founder and former Chair of the Board at Ascend LLP, a national accounting firm that began in 2009 with 7 partners, 7 offices, and 46 staff. Under his leadership, Ascend grew to include 23 offices, over 200 staff, and 18 partners, serving clients across Canada with a focus on innovation, integrity, and community.

Jamie earned his Certified General Accountant designation in 2003, now part of the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation. Prior to entering the accounting profession, he completed the Business Information Technology Specialist program at NBCC in 1999, and worked in the IT sector from 2000 to 2009, progressing from Programmer Analyst to Senior Solutions Architect.

At Ascend, Jamie led strategic initiatives as Head of Information Technology, while also serving clients in accounting, assurance, and tax consulting. His ability to bridge technical and financial domains helped shape Ascend’s growth and digital transformation.

Jamie’s commitment to community is reflected in his decade-long service as Director and Treasurer of the Sussex Chamber of Commerce (2009–2019), and his role as Fractional CFO for Rapidmind Solutions Inc., a SharePoint consulting firm (2012–2013).