Born in Montreal, Quebec, Kinsman graduated from Princeton University in 1963 and the Institut d'études politiques de Paris in 1965.
[citation needed] In 2007, he was named Diplomat-in-Residence at the Woodrow Wilson School of Princeton University.
From 2011–2017, he was concurrently Distinguished Diplomatic Visitor at Ryerson University, Toronto.
Kinsman is a regular contributor to print media and TV, notably as lead foreign affairs writer for Policy Magazine.
He is a Distinguished Fellow of the Canadian International Council, and since 2007 has been an independent Director on the Board of Dundee Precious Metals, Inc.. Kinsman is also a member of the Prague Society for International Cooperation.