Professionally proven for more than three decades, Kristen Leigh Stinson, CPHR, CRSP, SHRM-SCP, CSP, has built a reputation for her expertise in organizational development and risk mitigation. In 2024, she became senior vice president and chief people officer at FPI Fireplace Products International Ltd., overseeing all branch operations across the United States, Canada, and Australia. Her responsibilities encompass multiple departments, including research and development, information technology, technical services, people and culture, and health and safety. She demonstrates her leadership by guiding teams through complex transitions while maintaining a focus on safety and employee well-being.
Ms. Stinson joined FPI Fireplace Products International in 2023 as vice president of people, culture, health, safety, and environment, and was later promoted to her current role. Her extensive work history includes time as a senior consultant for people and culture and production and operations refining at BP, a regional human resources manager for Tolko Industries, and multiple positions at Conifex Timber Inc. and Finning International Inc. Ms. Stinson’s earliest opportunity in her field was with Interior Health as a human resources specialist in 1996, then earning promotions to human resources officer and workplace health and safety specialist during the course of 10+ years with the company. Before that, she spent more than a decade as a long-term care aide in a hospital setting, where she was asked to assist with administrative tasks and discovered her passion for human resources.
Recognized for her achievements throughout her career, Ms. Stinson was honored as one of the Top Chief People Officers by Manage HR Magazine in 2025. She is particularly proud of partnering with Canadian safety regulators to develop the “Recover at Work” program during her time at Conifex Timber Inc. She has received two awards for implementing similar programs at FPI Fireplace Products International.
At the outset of her career journey, Ms. Stinson sought education that would prove instrumental in shaping her approach to leadership and organizational strategy. Her academic background begins in her home country of Canada with a diploma in occupational health and industrial hygiene from Keyano College in 2009, followed by a diploma in human resources management and services from the University of Alberta. Although she immigrated to the United States in 2017, Ms. Stinson remained invested in Canadian educational institutions, obtaining a bachelor’s degree in human resources and labor relations from Athabasca University in 2020. She subsequently earned a Master of Arts in multi- and interdisciplinary studies, work, organization, and leadership from the same institution in 2025.
Ms. Stinson is happily married and a loving mother to three children and two stepchildren. She enjoys an active lifestyle that includes soccer, involvement in walking and running clubs, minor hockey, and sports activities with her children.
Planning for the future, Ms. Stinson envisions significant advancements in leadership theory. She recently authored a paper exploring the key attributes leaders need to drive progress effectively — a project that underscores her belief that people are an organization’s greatest asset. Exemplifying resilience and adaptability, she continues to advocate for leaders who inspire motivation within their teams rather than just focusing on metrics and task completion.