Australian Livestock Exporters Council chief executive officer Alison Penfold has confirmed this morning that the council has approached former Federal agriculture minister Simon Crean to chair the organisation.

Incumbent chair Peter Kane indicated in May that he had decided not to seek a third term when the position becomes vacant at this year’s Annual General Meeting on October 29.

In a media statement issued this morning Ms Penfold said the council has approached Simon Crean to fill the position, however, the council has given no indication yet as to whether Mr Crean has indicated whether he will accept the invitation.

“The process for appointing the ALEC Chairman is in the hands of the organisation’s members and concludes on 29 October at the ALEC Annual General Meeting,” Ms Penfold said.

“A formal announcement on the appointment will be made at that time.”

Mr Crean retired from Federal Politics after 23 years as the Federal Member for Hotham at the September 2013 election. During his parliamentary career he served as minister for Primary Industries and Energy from 1991 to 1993, Leader of the Australian Labor Party and Leader of the Opposition from 2001 to 2003, and most recently as Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government in the Gillard Government.

Mr Kane, a former Senior Trade Commissioner with Austrade before his retirement in 2009, was elected as the ALEC Chairman in October 2010.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that Mr Kane was elected as ALEC’s second chairman in October 2010. ALEC commenced in 1985 and has since had 11 chairmen including Mr Kane since that time.