Sinclair (37), the chief executive of the Otago University Rowing Club since 2002, is one of the youngest administrators to get the award.
He follows in the footsteps of long-term Otago administrators such as Fred Strachan, Neil Burrow and Royce Wilson, who have won the award in the past.
Sinclair received the accolade during the Rowing New Zealand annual meeting. He was also re-elected to the board of Rowing New Zealand for a second two-year term.
The board has replaced the old New Zealand council, and Sinclair is the first Otago administrator to sit at rowing's top table since Neil Burrow, 22 years ago.
Sinclair was a strong competitor and won seven national premier lightweight titles but it has been as a coach and administrator that he has made his biggest mark on the sport.
He has been head coach of Otago University rowing since 2003 and was in charge of the Otago high-performance squad from 2006 to 2008.
He has been president of New Zealand University Rowing since 1999 and manager of New Zealand University teams that have competed at major university regattas overseas.
Sinclair has played a key role in integrating university rowing into the fold of New Zealand rowing.
One major coup was to persuade the Otago University Students Association to fund the building of the aquatic centre when the University clubrooms were burnt down.
The centre has become the hub of student rowing in Dunedin since it was built in 2002 and was the catalyst that persuaded Rowing New Zealand to put a high performance centre in Dunedin.
The aquatic centre, the only indoor rowing facility in New Zealand, has made it possible for rowing to become a 12-month sport at Otago University.
It has also attracted promising rowers to study at the University of Otago and still keep themselves in Rowing New Zealand's high-performance programme.
Sinclair has been the driving force that has led to both Otago University and New Zealand University crews competing successfully at major student regattas overseas since 1998.
Glen Sinclair
The facts
Age: 37.
Occupation: Otago University rowing chief executive.
Family: Wife Christie, children Sam (7) and Charli (4).
Administrative record: President NZ University Rowing 1999-2012, executive member Otago Rowing Association 1998 and 2004-12, Rowing NZ board 2010-12.
Coaching: Head coach Otago University rowing since 2003, coach NZ University crews.
Competitive record: Won seven NZ premier lightweight titles, NZ under-23 team 1996, NZ university team 1995-2001, NZ junior team 1992.
