Born in Kitimat, British Columbia in 1966, Penner grew up in Chilliwack in the eastern Fraser Valley, and spent his summers working as a park ranger and at a local sawmill.

[4][5] He received a bachelor's degree in political science and economics from Simon Fraser University in Burnaby in 1989,[2] and was selected for that year's British Columbia Legislative Internship Program.

He was re-elected in the 2009 provincial election to represent the reconfigured Chilliwack-Hope constituency (which includes Agassiz, Harrison Hot Springs and the Fraser Canyon) with more than 53% of votes cast.

[9] As an elected representative, Penner was an early advocate for expanding the use of Canada's DNA database to help identify, catch and convict violent criminals, and solve cases involving missing persons.

[10] He also introduced a motion in the legislature calling on the provincial government to establish an Amber alert system in BC to assist police in safely returning abducted children to their parents.

[15][16] Penner also launched a successful effort to raise awareness of a World War I hero, James Richardson, VC who is the only resident of Chilliwack to have been awarded the Victoria Cross.

[21] He additionally assumed the duties of Attorney General in December 2010 to replace Mike de Jong, who resigned the post to contest the Liberal Party leadership.

[26][27] On November 24, 2011, he announced that he would resign in early 2012 as he had accepted a position with the law firm of Davis LLP,[16] where he would work on environmental, energy and First Nations issues.

Penner was appointed by the BC Liberal provincial government as chair of the board of directors of Insurance Corporation of British Columbia as of March 31, 2016.