Brittany Higgins Appointed Executive Director of Progressive Fund
Brittany Higgins has been named executive director of the Vida Fund, a progressive fundraising and advocacy group established to counter the influence of far-right political movements and advance gender equity reforms.
"One Nation and the new right are trying to mainstream misogyny on a scale Australians have never seen before." — Brittany Higgins
Key Details
- Higgins will lead the Vida Fund, which supports independent candidates and advocates for gender equity.
- The organization plans to target the growing influence of the 'new right,' including among female One Nation voters.
- Higgins has criticized both conservative parties and the Labor government, arguing the government has not moved quickly enough on gender equality reforms.
- In the 2025 elections, the Vida Fund donated over $500,000 to independent MPs including Monique Ryan, Kate Chaney, Helen Haines, and Zoe Daniel.
- The fund has outlined a three-year strategy focused on gender equity, democratic reform, and countering far-right movements.
- Named after suffragist Vida Goldstein, the fund is supported by donors including former Apple Australia managing director Diana Ryall, Climate 200 adviser Anna Josephson, and corporate director Nicolette Rubinsztein.
Background
Higgins rose to national prominence in 2021 after alleging she was raped in Parliament House by former colleague Bruce Lehrmann. Criminal proceedings were discontinued. A civil court later found, on the balance of probabilities, that Lehrmann raped her. He has denied guilt.
She received a $2.4 million Commonwealth settlement and was later declared bankrupt after a Federal Court ruling related to defamation proceedings brought by former senator Linda Reynolds.
The article notes that One Nation's support among women has risen, according to Resolve Political Monitor data, and that the party now has more female supporters than male.
Statements
"The gains won over decades ... cannot be taken for granted." — Wendy McCarthy, Vida Fund advisory council chair