Brittany Higgins has been appointed the Director of Public Affairs at the female-founded, boutique public relations agency, Third Hemisphere.
Higgins brings over a decade of experience across media, government, public policy and advocacy as a widely-respected national voice driving institutional reform and meaningful public engagement towards many critical topics.
She began her career as a media adviser at both the federal and state levels, working across high-profile ministerial portfolios including Employment, Skills, Small Business, and Defence Industry.
She has also worked with the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership, and the Queensland Human Rights Commission; contributed to international human rights work including research for the United Nations CEDAW Committee; and has supported communications for various social justice initiatives.
More recently, Higgins has played a pivotal role in advancing national conversations on workplace culture, gender equity, and accountability in Australian politics.
As a sought-after commentator and media contributor, she has spoken at the National Press Club, addressed the historic #March4Justice rallies and has been profiled by many high-profile media outlets.
Higgins said she’s “extremely proud” to be joining Third Hemisphere as the firm “understands that the right message, at the right time, can shift public dialogue and drive real-world results”.
“This new role provides a unique opportunity to combine my strategic communications expertise with meaningful work in the private sector to drive change,” Higgins said.
“At its core, effective communication is about clarity, credibility, and cut-through. I’m excited to help organisations and leaders craft meaningful narratives that not only resonate with the public but positively influence policy outcomes.”
Founder and CEO of Third Hemisphere Hannah Moreno said the firm “couldn’t be more excited to welcome Brittany”.
“Third Hemisphere has long stood for courageous and world-changing leadership, whether by amplifying the work of our game-changing clients in tier-1 media, or by speaking out on social justice issues ourselves,” said Moreno.
“The appointment of Brittany to the team is a continuation of this commitment to building a better world through courageous media engagement and advocacy.”
Having founded Third Hemisphere ten years ago, Moreno is also a vocal feminist advocate and author who regularly speaks out on issues of sexual assault, domestic violence, trauma, leadership, gendered discrimination and workplace dynamics and abuse in sport, among other topics.
“As a multiple-time rape survivor myself, I have long admired Brittany’s courage in taking a public stand on her own experiences, and the deeper gender inequities occurring in our highest halls of power,” Moreno said.
“But beyond this, it is her depth of skill and experience in media, government, public policy, and advocacy that attracted her as a candidate for this role.”
Moreno leads Third Hemisphere with her husband and Managing Director, Jeremy Liddle, who has also spoken on the significance of Higgins’ appointment at the firm.
“Brittany Higgins is a hero,” Liddle said. “What she has achieved is nothing short of remarkable, and we are incredibly fortunate to be working with her.”
“Her appointment represents a significant expansion of our strategic communications and public relations capabilities. Her deep expertise in public affairs, policy communications, and crisis management perfectly complements our existing strengths in technology PR, fintech communications, and ESG public relations.
“For clients navigating complex situations or public affairs challenges, Brittany brings unparalleled expertise in stakeholder engagement, crisis communications, navigating complex legal situations, and strategic advocacy.”