Party People - Liberal Party of Australia

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Federal President, Alan Stockdale
Federal Treasurer, Philip Higginson
Federal Director, Brian Loughnane

Federal President Alan Stockdale

Elected as Federal President in February 2008, Alan Stockdale has an exceptional range of experience across business, law, sport and politics. He served in the Victorian Parliament as the Member for Brighton from 1985-99, and was Treasurer in the Kennett Government from 1992-99 and Minister for IT and Multimedia from 1996-99. He is Chairman or Director of a number of listed companies and a former Chairman of the Institute of Public Affairs; a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Courts of Victoria and New South Wales. Alan signed the High Court Roll of Practitioners in 1977.

Alan is a recipient of several honours, including the Centenary Medal and Tasman Medal. He is a member of a number of sporting and community organisations, including the Melbourne Football Club, of which he has served as a director and remains an enthusiastic supporter, and is a keen golfer.

Past Federal Presidents

Chris McDiven
2005 - 2008
Shane Stone
1999 - 2005
Tony Staley
1993 - 1999
Ashley Goldsworthy
1990 - 1993
John Elliott
1987 - 1990
John Valder
1985 - 1987
Dr A.J. Forbes
1982 - 1985
John Atwill
1975 - 1982
Robert Southey
1970 - 1975
J. E. Pagan
1965 - 1970
Phillip McBride
1960 - 1965
Lyle Moore
1956 - 1960
W. H. Anderson
1951 - 1956
Richard Casey
1947 - 1950
Malcolm Ritchie
1945-47, 1950-51

Honorary Federal Treasurer Philip Higginson

Philip Higginson has been Honorary Federal Treasurer of the Liberal Party since February 2011.

Philip Higginson is the managing director of ProNed Australia P/L, a company specialising in non-executive director search and board governance advice. Philip has served in this role since 1999.

An experienced company director, Philip has served as Chairman of Employment National Limited for a number of years including during its orderly sale process, and as chairman of TransGrid for over 12 years.

Philip has an extensive background in community service. He served with the Salvation Army for 15 years, including on the Sydney Advisory Board and two terms as Chairman of the Sydney Red Shield Appeal.

Other business and community activities have included a lengthy period as Chairman of the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, a director of the Home Purchase Assistance Authority, a member of the board of Focus Publishing Pty Ltd, a Vice-President of the NSW Chamber of Manufacturers, a director of the Employers Federation Limited, a Vice-President of the Conservatorium of Music Foundation, Federal President of the Australian British Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Australia Day Council.

Past Party Treasurers

Michael Yabsley
2008 - 2011
Mark Bethwaite
2006 - 2008
John Calvert-Jones
2003 - 2006
Malcolm Turnbull
2002 - 2003
Ronald Walker
1989 - 2002
David Clarke
1987 - 1989
John Elliot
1985 - 1987
Sir Robert
Crichton-Brown
1974 - 1985
Sir Charles McGrath
1968 - 1974

Sir William Anderson 1962 - 1968
S. F. Utz 1956 - 1962
B. F. Dargan 1949 - 1956 (pictures unavailable)

Federal Director Brian Loughnane

Brian Loughnane has been Federal Director of the Liberal Party of Australia since February 2003. He was born in Geelong, Victoria and grew up and was educated in Colac. He graduated with an Honours degree in Political Science from La Trobe University in 1981.

From 1982-92 Brian worked in industrial relations with Shell. He was responsible for industrial relations at the Geelong Refinery during the introduction of enterprise bargaining in the late 1980s.

He has been actively involved at all levels of the Liberal Party for over twenty five years. Following the election of the Kennett Government in 1992, Brian became Senior Adviser to Hon. Vin Heffernan, Minister for Small Business and Youth Affairs. In late 1994 he became Chief of Staff to the Leader of the Opposition, Alexander Downer, and was Chief of Staff to Hon. John Howard until May 1995. During 1995 and 1996, Brian was a senior executive with the Gas and Fuel Corporation.

In May 1996 Brian was appointed Chief of Staff to Hon. John Moore, and served with Mr Moore in both Industry and Defence portfolios. Brian was State Director of the Victorian Division of the Liberal Party from October 2000 to February 2003. In this role he was Campaign Director for the Aston federal by-election in July 2001 and the 2002 Victorian State Election.

Brian was the Party’s National Campaign Director for the 2004 and 2007 Federal Elections. Brian has been a member of the Liberal Party for over 25 years and is a former President of the Viewbank Branch. He has served locally on many State and Federal Campaign Committees and in numerous other Party positions.

Brian is married to Peta Credlin and his interests include films, horse racing, bush walking and American politics.