The Summit will be at Parliament House, Canberra, on April 19 and 20, aiming to harness the best ideas on a variety of topics affecting Australia.

The Mail-Times believes Mrs Champness is the only person from the Wimmera selected to participate in a forum for open public discussion.

Mrs Champness, Hindmarsh Shire's community development manager, has been selected to join the forum on `Future directions for rural industries and rural communities'.

"It's really really exciting," she said.

"I've never done something like this before and it looked interesting, a great opportunity to have input."

Mrs Champness said she had already begun collecting input from other people about their vision for Australia.

"There is so much that I could contribute, a lot of people have given advice, I'll have to take notes I think," she said.

"But people's reaction has been really positive, they are really excited that I am going."

Mrs Champness said she was nominated by a former colleague, with the application outlining her background and listing referees.

She said her shire job, which she began on February 5 after working at Nhill Neighbourhood House, focused on tourism, economic development and community development.

"They are closely related, I'm still on the neighbourhood house committee, it's something I'm passionate about," she said.

Mrs Champness is German and moved to the Wimmera four years ago after marrying a Kaniva man.

"I very much enjoyed it here, the lifestyle is so relaxed," she said.

"The community is closer, everybody knows everybody and there is a lot of community involvement."

The 2020 Summit Steering Committee selected 1000 people from nearly 8000 nominations.

There are 10 categories to be covered: A long-term national health strategy; Australia's future security and prosperity in a rapidly changing region and world; future directions for the Australian economy; future directions for rural industries and rural communities; future of Australian governance; options for the future of indigenous Australia; population, sustainability, climate change and water; strengthening communities, supporting families and social inclusion; the productivity agenda, education, skills, training, science and innovation; and towards a creative Australia.