Rebecca Dee-Bradbury, Kraft Foods' president of developed markets for Asia-Pacific, has been appointed to advise the federal government on how best to meet the challenges of implementing its Asian Century policies.
She was one of three industry executives with extensive experience in Asia named by Prime Minister Julia Gillard who will take their place on the new Strategic Advisory Board on Australia in the Asian Century.
In a media statement, the PM noted that Dee-Bradbury had represented industry on the Prime Minister’s Taskforce on Manufacturing in 2012.
“She will again provide a strong industry voice, in particular on behalf of agricultural and food processing businesses,” the statement said.
Dee-Bradbury has led the company through a period of change, having presided over Kraft Foods' 2010 takeover of Cadbury.
Kraft Foods also recently opened the first stage of what will become Australia's largest food R&D facility, which is based on the innovation-hub model proposed by the Prime Minister's Taskforce on Manufacturing.
RMIT vice-chancellor Margaret Gardner was also appointed as was Leighton Holdings' chief Hamish Tyrwhitt, who will chair the group.
They join former treasury secretary Ken Henry, Telstra chair Catherine Livingstone, The Australian National University's Peter Drysdale, and Corrs Chambers' Westgarth chief executive John Denton on the board.
The PM described the economic rise of Asia as “the defining development of the 21st Century”.
The government also published its Implementation Plan, which sets out White Paper measures already taken, action envisaged over the next 12 months and further policies that need development.
The appointment of the new advisory board members would help keep governments, business and the wider Australian community focused on the opportunities presented by the transformation of Asia, according to the statement.
