With the 2020 summit coming to an end, the leaders of each stream were asked to front the 1000 odd delegates to present their ideas.
Far reaching ideas ranging from health, education, to taxes and indigenous issues were all brought to the table as the 10 working groups unveiled their findings.
A common theme across most groups was to find a mechanism to remove duplication and inefficiency between the Commonwealth and the states, although one group admitted to wanting to go further.
"We almost abolished the states," rural stream head Tim Fischer told the closing session.
Mr Rudd, who sat in on part of each group's workshops, thanked all the delegates for being able to look beyond short-term interests to the nation's long-term needs.
"Let's look beyond three-year cycles, let's look beyond the next few years, let's look to the decade ahead and the decade plus and let's have the courage to be farsighted," he said.
"We can either take command of the future or we can sit back and allow the future to take command of us."
Mr Rudd said the success of the summit rested on a number of very Australian characteristics.
"I think the reason it's worked ... is because it's been characterised by a whole lot of good humour, a whole lot of mutual respect, and a whole lot of very classical, undeniable Australian directness."
He said the prevailing sentiment at the summit had been one of optimism, mixed with an acceptance of the seriousness of the challenges the lie ahead and an acceptance of the need to act.
"I don't want to wake up one morning in the year 2020 with the regret of not having acted when I had the chance, that's why it's important to plan ahead," he said.
Video: John Barrington