Liberal Party of Australia

Shortcut to:

Federal President, Alan Stockdale
Federal Treasurer, Michael Yabsley
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
970 - 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 Michael Yabsley

Michael Yabsley has been the Liberal Party’s Honorary Federal Treasurer since December 2008. He also chairs the Party’s Finance Committee and Leaders' Round Table.

Michael has an extensive range of experience in business, fundraising and government. Serving in the NSW Parliament as the Member for Bligh from 1984 to 1988 and the Member from Vaucluse from 1988 to 1994, Michael held a range of Ministerial responsibilities in the Greiner and Fahey Governments.

He is founder and director of corporate advisory firm Government Relations Australia Advisory, and director of Michael Yabsley & Associates, a firm specialising in fundraising and corporate hospitality. Michael also owns and operates a small business, Wombat Hollow Iron Bed & Lamp Company.

In addition to his role as Honorary Federal Treasurer, Michael founded and chaired the Wentworth Forum and the NSW Liberal Party’s Millennium Forum.

Michael is married with two children.

Past Party Treasurers

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.