Brittany Higgins announces surprising career move just days after celebrating university graduation
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Brittany Higgins has announced plans to return to university amid speculation that she will join forces with former Australia Post CEO Christina Holgate.
The former Liberal staffer took to Instagram to share a photo of her acceptance letter on Thursday, writing: “Officially a @sydney_uni MBA student.”
Ms Higgins will be studying for a Master of Business Administration at the University of Sydney, which takes around 18 months to complete when studying full-time.
She posted a series of photos from her graduation ceremony at Griffiths University on the Gold Coast last week, where she completed a double degree.
Brittany Higgins (pictured at the ACT Supreme Court in October) has announced plans to return to university to study for a business degree.
The former Liberal staffer took to Instagram to share a photo of her acceptance letter (pictured) on Thursday, writing: “Officially a @sydney_uni MBA student.”
Ms Higgins said her university experience had been “unconventional” and was congratulated by a number of high-profile Australians, including Lisa Wilkinson.
Her announcement comes amid strong speculation that former Australia Post chief executive Christina Holgate will hire Ms Higgins into a role on her own team.
The women bonded over their torrid experiences within Scott Morrison’s government, with a source revealing that they didn’t just “build a friendship.”
The source said Higgins is likely to embark on her first post-political job at logistics company Team Global Express, formerly Toll Global Express, where Holgate is now chief executive.
Toll Global Express, with more than 8,000 employees, is now one of Australia Post’s biggest competitors in parcel delivery.
He posted a series of photos from his graduation ceremony at Griffiths University on the Gold Coast last week, where he completed a double degree (pictured)
Services include expedited parcels, cargo delivery, and domestic shipping services in Australia and New Zealand.
However, a spokesperson for Ms Higgins has insisted the pair are just friends, rather than potential colleagues.
“She literally just got out of the hospital,” the spokeswoman said.
Her college graduation comes just days after Ms. Higgins settled her claim against the Commonwealth, receiving a confidential payment after initially seeking around $3 million in damages.
Attorney Noor Blumer, representing Ms. Higgins, issued a brief statement last Tuesday.
“In a mediation held today, the Commonwealth and Ms Higgins have settled their claims,” Ms Blumer said.
“At the request of Ms. Higgins, the parties have agreed that the terms of the settlement are confidential.”
In early December, Ms. Higgins’ civil action named three defendants in her action: Senators Linda Reynolds and Michaelia Cash, as well as the Commonwealth. Since then, Senator Reynolds is believed to have been removed from the claim.
The documents state Ms. Higgins’ intent to sue for sexual harassment, sex discrimination, disability discrimination, neglect and victimization.
At the time, the claim was expected to be worth about $3 million, including $2.5 million for future economic losses, past economic losses of about $100,000, and general damages of $100,000.
None of those numbers were mentioned Tuesday.
“The parties welcome the fact of the agreement,” said Ms. Blumer.
Ms. Higgins alleges that Bruce Lehrmann raped her in 2019 inside the ministerial office of Senator Reynolds, for whom they both worked as staff.
Lehrmann has always denied the accusation.
His ACT Supreme Court trial was derailed by jury misconduct.
Prosecutors decided not to take further action.
Ms. Higgins celebrated her college graduation with her partner David Sharaz
After the 2019 federal election, Ms Higgins moved into the office of then-employment minister Michaelia Cash to work as a media adviser.
Mr. Lehrmann is also considering an insurance claim and defamation action.
The ACT’s director of public prosecution, Shane Drumgold, also raised concerns about the “political and police conduct” in the case.
ACT Attorney General Shane Rattenbury confirmed the matter had been referred to the Australian Law Enforcement Integrity Commission for further investigation.
I am aware that the matter has been referred. As such, it is not appropriate to comment further at this time,” she said in a statement.
The police union criticized Mr Drumgold’s office for criticizing the Australian Federal Police and ACT Policing who investigated the matter.
In a statement, Australian Federal Police Association president Alex Caruana said the union “wholeheartedly” supported a judicial inquiry into Lehrmann’s trial.
But he said “desperate attempts” to smear police forces by the territory’s top prosecutor were unproven and the subject of an internal investigation.
In a document released under freedom of information laws, Drumgold wrote that police had engaged in a campaign to pressure him not to prosecute Lehrmann on the Higgins accusation.