Eric Neal

The Honourable Sir Eric Neal AC CVO FTSE HonFAIB CP Eng
32nd Governor of South Australia
In office 1996–2001
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Premier	Dean Brown (1996) John Olsen (1996-2001)
Preceded by	Dame Roma Mitchell
Succeeded by	Marjorie Jackson-Nelson
Chief Commissioner of Sydney
In office 1987–1988
Preceded by	Doug Sutherland as Lord Mayor
Succeeded by	Jeremy Bingham as Lord Mayor
Personal details
Born	24 June 1924
Nationality	Australian

Sir Eric James Neal AC CVO FTSE HonFAIB (born 3 June 1924) was the Governor of South Australia 1996-2001, Commissioner of Sydney from 1987 to 1988, and from 2002 - 2010, the Chancellor of Flinders University.

He trained as an engineer at the South Australian School of Mines (now part of the University of South Australia), and became a successful businessman. The peak of his career was fourteen years as CEO of Boral. He was also a Director of John Fairfax Holdings, BHP, Coca-Cola Amatil and AMP Limited and Chairperson of Westpac, and of Atlas Copco Australia Pty Ltd.

He was appointed Governor of South Australia in 1996, being the first person from the business community to take up residence in Government House in Adelaide.

Honours

• He is a Life Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors^[1]
• He is one of only nine Honorary Fellows of the Australian Institute of Building^[2]
• On 17 April 2007, Sir Eric Neal accepted the offer of the Adelaide University Soccer Club Blacks invitation to become the club's patron.
• Flinders University named its Engineering Building and the University of South Australia named its Mawson Lakes campus library after him.
• He was the first Principal Patron of the Freemasons Foundation Centre for Men's Health at the University of Adelaide.
• Since 2009 he has chaired the South Australian Government Veterans' Advisory Council.^[3]

	Companion of the Order of Australia (AC)	1988[4]
	Knight Bachelor	1982[5]
	Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO)	1992[6]
	Knight of the Order of St John	1996
	Centenary Medal	(2001)[7]

References

1. Australian Institute of Company Directors
2. AIB Honorary Fellows, Australian Institute of Building
3. Veterans SA
4. It's an Honour - Companion of the Order of Australia
5. It's an Honour - Knight Bachelor
6. It's an Honour - Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
7. It's an Honour - Centenary Medal