Mark Higgie

Mark Higgie
Australian Ambassador to the European Union, NATO, Belgium and Luxembourg
Incumbent
Assumed office 2014
Preceded by	Duncan Lewis
International Advisor to the Hon. Tony Abbott MP
In office 2010–2014
Succeeded by	Craig MacLachlan
Personal details
Born	(1957-07-26) 26 July 1957 Canberra, Australia
Spouse(s)	Zoe née Colvin
Children	Anna,[1] Lucinda
Parents	William[2] and Jean Higgie
Alma mater	Australian National University

Mark William Christopher Higgie (born 26 July 1957) is an Australian diplomat, former Coalition political advisor and former intelligence analyst. He has been Australia’s ambassador in Brussels since September 2014.^[3] He previously served as international advisor to the Hon Tony Abbott MP, both when Abbott was Leader of the Opposition (2010-2013) and when he was Prime Minister (2013-2014).^[4][5]

From 2010 to 2013, Higgie was Tony Abbott's advisor on foreign affairs, trade, immigration, defence and national security issues. He co-ordinated Liberal-National policy on international issues at the Coalition’s campaign headquarters in Melbourne at both the 2010 and 2013 federal elections. He worked closely with former immigration minister Scott Morrison on the Coalition’s ‘stop the boats’ policies.^[6]

The Financial Review's 2013 national power survey listed Higgie fourth on its Defence Strategies sectoral list.^[7] He is seen as close to the foreign editor of The Australian,Greg Sheridan.^[8]

In government he had responsibility in Abbott's office for foreign affairs and trade, while former John Howard international advisor Andrew Shearer handled national security, defence and immigration.^[9][10]

Prior to joining Abbott’s team, Higgie served for three years as the representative in the UK of the Office of National Assessments, the government’s intelligence assessment agency on international affairs. In this role, Higgie was the Australian representative on the Joint Intelligence Committee (United Kingdom).^[11]

Higgie served as Australia’s ambassador in Budapest 1998-2001.^[12] At the conclusion of his posting the Hungarian president awarded him the Middle Cross of the Order of Merit for services to Hungary-Australia relations.^[13]

He earlier served as First Secretary later Counsellor Vienna (1992–98) and Third later Second Secretary Belgrade (1985–87). Higgie joined the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1984.^[4]

He has a BA (Hons) in Russian and Political Science from the Australian National University (1981) and a PhD from the same institution for a thesis on Soviet, East German and Yugoslav manipulation of nationalism (1987).^[14] While doing research for his PhD in 1982, he undertook an internship at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty at its then Munich headquarters.

In 1988-89 Higgie served as policy advisor to then Opposition Leader John Howard's shadow foreign minister, John Spender QC.

Higgie’s wife Zoe (née Colvin) is the daughter of British MI6 agent John Colvin and Lady (Anne) Synnot, who later married Admiral Sir Anthony Synnot, Chief of the Defence Force Staff 1979-82. Her brother is ABC presenter Mark Colvin.

References