Created in 1995, ABAC is an inter-governmental forum facilitating economic growth in the Asia Pacific Regions. It comprises up to three members of the private sector who represent a range of business sectors from each of the 21 member economies.

Key priorities for ABAC in 2008 include advancing trade and investment liberalisation in the region, improving the investment environment, reducing costs of doing business in the region, strengthening and deepening capital markets, enhancing social security and retirement safety nets and addressing challenges posed by climate change and energy security,

Joining Denton from Australia is Lindsay Fox, the founder of Linfox — one of Australia’s largest transport and logistics companies — and Mark Johnson, the chairman of AGL and the former deputy chairman of Macquarie Bank.

In announcing the appointments, the Minister for Trade, Simon Crean, said that the new members would “ensure Australian business has a strong voice at the table”.