Minister for Trade Simon Crean has announced the business advisory panel members for the government's Building Brand Australia project, which will be chaired by David Mortimer, author of the Mortimer Review of Export Policies and Programs. The panel members are:

• Sandra Chipchase - CEO, Melbourne Convention and Visitors Bureau
• Margaret Gardner AO - Vice Chancellor & President, RMIT
• Mark Johnson - Chairman, Australian Financial Forum
• Rob Murray - CEO, Lion Nathan
• Michael Luscombe - CEO, Woolworths
• Peter Yuile - Deputy CEO, Austrade

Crean expressed delight at the level of business interest in Building Brand Australia. "Business has a vital role to play in guiding the direction of the Brand project," he said. "This project is not just about a slogan, it’s about promoting Australia as a country with a diverse and high quality range of products, services and skills. It is about letting the world know about the full range of Australian capabilities." The panel will help oversee the tender process for the government's $20 million marketing project scheduled for local launch in February 2010 and to debut internationally in May at the Shanghai World Expo 2010.