Newell, CEO and board chair of Syncrude Canada Ltd., is recognized across Canada as a foremost advocate of business and education partnerships. A recipient of the Canada Medal, Newell was also inducted into the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame and received the Alberta Teachers' Association Award for Outstanding Effort on behalf of public education. His exemplary citizenship was complemented with the 125th Commemorative Medal of Canada, the Alberta School Trustees' Friends of Education Award and the University of Alberta's 1997 Canadian Business Leader Award.

His numerous professional and community affiliations include: Careers.The Next Generation Foundation, Conference Board of Canada, Canadian Millennium Scholarship Foundation, Aboriginal Human Resources Development Council and Alliance for Responsible Environmental Alternatives.

Eric Newell was one of eight prominent Canadians to receive awards at the Calgary ceremony.