Brian Loughnane

Loughnane commenced his business career with Shell Australia in 1982, and was responsible for industrial relations at the Geelong oil refinery during the introduction of enterprise bargaining.[1]

In 1992, he was appointed as Senior Advisor to Vin Heffernan, the Minister for Small Business in the Kennett government. In 1994 he became Chief of Staff to Alexander Downer, the federal Leader of the Opposition. When John Howard succeeded Downer as Opposition Leader in early 1995, Loughnane was appointed as Howard's Chief of Staff, serving until May 1995, before appointment to a senior executive role with Gas and Fuel Corporation for twelve months. He returned to politics in 1996 and served as Chief of Staff to John Moore in his capacities as Minister for Industry, Science and Tourism and as Minister for Defence.[1]

From October 2000 to February 2003 Loughnane was State Director of the Victorian Division of the Liberal Party. He was Campaign Director for the 2001 by-election for the federal Division of Aston (Liberal retain) and the 2002 Victorian state election.

In late 2002 Loughnane was appointed Federal Director of the Liberal Party of Australia and served as Campaign Director for the Coalition parties at the federal elections held in 2004 (Coalition returned with increased majority), 2007 (Labor win), 2010 (Labor minority) and 2013 (Coalition win). He retired as Federal Director of the Liberal Party in February 2016.

Loughnane has extensive international political experience with major centre-right parties around the world. He attended the first Convention of the Conservative Party of Canada and has had a close working relationship with senior Canadian political figures for many years.[3] In 2016, he was asked to conduct a review of the 2015 national election campaign for the Conservative Party of Canada.[4]

Loughnane is Deputy Chairman of the International Democrat Union since April 2019 and was previously Assistant Chairman[5] and in 2015 was appointed to the International Republican Institute International Advisory Board.[6]