Mark Higgie
| Mark Higgie | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Australian Ambassador to the European Union, NATO, Belgium and Luxembourg | |
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Assumed office 2014 |
|
| Preceded by | Duncan Lewis |
| International Advisor to the Hon. Tony Abbott MP | |
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In office 2010–2014 |
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| Succeeded by | Craig MacLachlan |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
26 July 1957 Canberra, Australia |
| Spouse(s) | Zoë |
| Children | Anna, Lucinda |
| Parents | William 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. 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). He coordinated Liberal-National policy on international issues at the Coalition’s campaign headquarters in Melbourne at both the 2010 and 2013 federal elections.
The Financial Review's 2013 national power survey listed Higgie fourth on its Defence Strategies sectoral list.
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).
Higgie served as Australia’s ambassador in Budapest 1998-2001. 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.
He earlier served as First Secretary later Counsellor Vienna (1992–95) and Third later Second Secretary Belgrade (1985–87). Higgie joined the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1984.
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 nationality policy in the Soviet Union, East Germany and Yugoslavia (1987). 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.
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