Kinley earned a Bachelor of Arts in Language and Cultural Studies from the Institute of Language and Cultural Studies, a Post-Graduate Certificate in Development Management from the Royal Institute of Management, and a Master of Public Policy from the Australian National University. Kinley also earned a one-year accelerated MA in Sustainable International Development from Brandeis University. He has more than sixteen years of experience in coordinating and monitoring development programs and projects both at the center and local levels in Bhutan. His broad research interest is in social welfare, social policy, social protection/safety nets. He has previously worked with the Local Governments and the erstwhile Gross National Happiness Commission (National Planning Agency of Bhutan).