Mr. Kerry Hawkins is Chair of the founding CentrePort Canada Board of Directors, a nominee of the Business Council of Manitoba.  In addition to his role at CentrePort, Mr. Hawkins is a Director of the Winnipeg Airports Authority, TransCanada Corporation, Prince Rupert Port Authority, National Leasing Group and Manitoba Blue Cross.

Kerry Hawkins was born in Calgary, Alberta and has spent most of his life in Winnipeg, Manitoba.  He graduated with a degree in Business Economics from North Dakota State University in 1964.  After graduation, Mr. Hawkins began his career at Cargill Incorporated in Minneapolis, soon transferring to Chicago as a grain trader.  Mr. Hawkins moved back to Winnipeg in 1966 and in 1970 he moved to London to head grain operations for Cargill in the United Kingdom.  In 1974 he was transferred to Geneva and in 1977 he returned to Canada as Vice-President of Cargill.  Mr. Hawkins was appointed President of Cargill Limited in 1982, working out of Cargill’s Winnipeg headquarters until his retirement in 2005.     

Mr. Hawkins is a strong supporter of the arts community.  He has served as a Director for the Winnipeg Art Gallery, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and numerous local committees.  He is also committed to establishing positive relationships with the Aboriginal community.  Mr. Hawkins has served as a Director of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, Chair of the Manitoba Chapter of the Council for Aboriginal Business, and member of the Canadian Aboriginal Economic Development National Board.

In 1997 Mr. Hawkins was named “Outstanding Alumni” by North Dakota State University.  Mr. Hawkins was presented with the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for “Outstanding Contribution to the Community” in 2001 and in 2002 he received the “Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser” award from the Brandon University Foundation.  In 2009, Mr. Hawkins was honoured with the “Duff Roblin Award” from the University of Winnipeg.