ESSENDON legend James Hird is among the first to be named as a participant in the Rudd Government's Australia 2020 Summit.

Former Bombers captain Hird, who retired from Australian football at the end of last season, was among a list of 1000 participants released on Friday.

Hird joins other high-profile Australians such as media and gaming boss James Packer, aerial skiing gold medallist Alisa Camplin and actor Hugh Jackman among the 1000 chosen as a cross-section of the nation's population.

"There's 51 per cent female, they come from every state and territory, they are from a whole range of professions, there are people here from electricians through to university professors and everyone in between," co-chair Professor Glyn Davis said in Melbourne on Friday.

Prof Davis said while many of those named were well known there were many others chosen who would represent the average Australian.

He said almost 8000 applied, showing great depth of ideas and interest in Australia's future existed right across the community.

Hird, who played 253 games for Essendon over 15 years, will meet with other participants in Canberra on April 19 and 20 in 10 steering committees to discuss their specialist topics.

Issues include a long-term national health strategy, future directions for the Australian economy, future directions for rural areas, the future of indigenous Australia, environmental sustainability issues and strengthening communities, supporting families and social inclusion.

Hird, a 35-year-old premiership player for the Bombers, won the Brownlow Medal in 1996, was named best and fairest at his club five times and also won All-Australian selection on five occasions.