Thistledown Foundation
Social enterprise entrepreneur, philanthropist, and community-builder.
Mrs. McKean purchased The Opinicon in 2015 and lead the shuttered resort through extensive renovation and restoration. It now employs many in the local community and welcomes thousands of visitors a year. Mrs. McKean’s leadership and community commitment are also demonstrated through her work as Founder and Chair of the Thistledown Foundation. Launched in January 2019, the Foundation is seeded with a $150 million endowment to accelerate frontier carbon removal technology and curtail the worst impacts of climate change. She holds a master’s in international relations from the Norman Patterson School of International Relations at the University of Carleton.