The process behind finding Australia’s favourite trade mark has been exhaustive.
To begin, members of the business and industry community were asked to nominate Australia’s most prominent trade marks for consideration as the most popular.
A panel of eminent Australians, including advertising guru Siimon Reynolds, artist and entrepreneur Ken Done, rugby star and businessman George Gregan, and businesswoman and fashion designer Carla Zampatti, then joined together to vet a list of 40 and to choose their top 10.
It is from this final list of 10 trade marks that all Australians will be able to vote to nominate their favourite Australian trade mark.
Ken Done A.M. F.D.I.A (Hons) Hon. B.des
Ken Done's first solo exhibition was held in Sydney in 1980. Since then, he has held over 50 one-man shows, including major exhibitions in Australia, Europe, Japan and the USA. His work has been described as the most original style to come out of Australia, and his paintings are in collections throughout the world.
Over the past few years, Ken has devoted most of his time to painting. His works have been shown in the Archibald, Sulman, Wynne, Blake, and Dobell Prizes.
Ken's paintings have become the creative source of a unique, and very successful Australian business and brand - Done Art and Design. It began with a small run of t-shirts printed with a beautifully simple, bold drawing of Sydney Harbour. This original image has gone on to become an icon of Sydney, and an icon of Done.
Brilliant colour and unique art-based prints inspire the contemporary Done Art and Design brand, which today includes swimwear, clothing, accessories, kidswear and homewares.
With numerous Done stores in Australia, and representation in selected stockists throughout the world, Done Art and Design continues to develop and expand, promoting Australian art and design to a world-wide audience.
Ken Done and Associates has more than 30 registered Australian trade marks. The first was trade mark registration No. 388743 comprising the signature of KEN DONE which was registered from 16 March 1983 for clothing including boots, shoes and slippers.
Carla Zampatti AM
Designer Carla Zampatti is one of Australia's fashion industry pioneers. Born in Italy, she settled with her family in Australia in 1950, producing her first collection for Zampatti Pty Ltd.
Creating her own style of fashion, complemented by a unique blend of her Australian and Italian heritage, Carla has positioned her label as a highly recognised component of the modern Australian lifestyle.
In addition to her role as a leading Australian designer, Carla is the Chairperson of the SBS (TV and Radio) Corporation. She also holds directorships with the Westfield Group and McDonald’s Australia, is a trustee of the Sydney Theatre Company Foundation Trust, and is a board member of the Australian Multicultural Foundation.
In honour of her contributions to both fashion and business, Carla was awarded one of the country’s top distinctions, a Member of the Order of Australia (AM), at the 2001 Australia Day Awards. She also received the fashion industry’s Lyrebird Award, the Bulletin/Qantas Businesswoman of the Year Award, and was voted Designer of the Year in the 1994 Australian Fashion Awards.
In 2005 Carla was honoured by Australia Post as an Australian Legend with her own stamp for her contribution to the Australian fashion industry as well as her influence on our national identity.
IP Australia records indicate that Carla Zampatti has sought protection of a range of her trade marks (initials, words and also a stylised logo) since at least July 1974 where an application for the stylised initials CZ was registered.
George Gregan AM
One of only two foundation players left at the Brumbies, George Gregan firmed his standing as an icon of rugby when he became the world's most capped test rugby player during the 2005 Wallaby Spring Tour. He is in his 11th season with the Brumbies, where he is the only player to have reached the 100-game milestone.
Born in Zambia, Africa, and raised in Canberra, George has achieved almost everything in the game after bursting on the scene with a tackle on All Black winger Jeff Wilson to win the Bledisloe Cup for Australia in 1994. He is the only player in the current Australian team to have played across the amateur and professional eras.
He captained the Brumbies to their first Super 12 championship in 2001 and has captained his country to Bledisloe Cup, Cook Cup, Tri-Nations and World Cup success. In 2004 he received the Order of Australia for services to rugby.
George has several commercial interests outside of rugby. Together with his wife Erica, George established the George Gregan Foundation, a project aimed at building playgrounds for sick children in hospital.
The pair has also established a chain of coffee shops in Sydney and recently launched a version of the Mokador Espresso Machine known as "The Gregan”.
George Gregan has put his name to the GEORGE GREGAN FOUNDATION. A recently filed stylised trade mark that prominently features the initials GG and the word FOUNDATION. In addition, the term GEORGE GREGAN FOUNDATION is also included in the mark.