Biography
Eric Newell, 64, is the retired Chancellor of the University of Alberta, a position he held from 2004 to 2008. He is the retired Chair and CEO of Syncrude Canada L td. (Syncrude), positions he held from 1994 and 1989, respectively, until 2004. He served as President of Syncrude from 1989 to 1997. Prior to that, he worked with Imperial Oil Limited and Esso Petroleum Canada Ltd.

Mr. Newell holds a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of British Columbia and a Masters of Science in Management Studies from the University of Birmingham, England. He has received Honorary Doctorates of Law from Athabasca University, University of Alberta, University of British Columbia and University of Lethbridge, and an Honorary Diploma from Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT). He is an Officer of the Order of Canada and a member of the Alberta Order of Excellence.

Eric is the Chair of CAREERS: The Next Generation and Alberta Energy Research Institute, Vice Chair of Lieutenant Governor Arts Award Foundation, and a member of the boards of C.D. Howe Institute, Telus World of Science, The Gairdner Foundation, Junior Achievement of Northern Alberta and The Learning Partnership. As past President of the Alberta Chamber of Resources, he led the creation of the National Oil Sands Task Force in 1995.

Eric currently resides in Edmonton, AB.