Lorraine Higgins

Lorraine is a highly experienced public policy professional, media commentator and strategist and has worked with a number of blue-chip multinational companies leading their communication programme development and government affairs function in Ireland or providing external strategic advice.

While CEO of Retail Excellence, she was instrumental in developing the public affairs function of the organisation which proposed and promoted the establishment of the Cross-Party Oireachtas Committee on Retail; establishing the organisation as a nominating body for the Seanad Éireann elections; and led the organisation to become one of the leading industry representative and lobbying bodies in Ireland.

In that role she interacted at all levels of Government and sat on four departmental advisory committees on business, retail, skills and Brexit; was a member of the Global Retail Council, addressed the United Nations in Geneva regarding Ireland’s eCommerce and digital development; worked closely with the largest lobbying body in the world, the NRF (USA), on the implementation of the GDPR for American retailers; and was appointed a Director of eCommerce Europe based in Brussels.

During her time as a Senator she was a regular contributor on matters including business, entrepreneurship, and EU issues. In an independent study conducted in 2014 she was named the second most influential member of Seanad Éireann in terms of shaping public policy and opinion, and in December 2015, she was also named by the Irish Times as one of the Top 5 People in Politics to Watch.

Ms. Higgins is also Honorary Consul of the Slovak Republic, having been appointed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs in 2019. She plays a key role in the economic, educational and cultural development of the relationship between the Slovakia and Ireland.

She previously worked as a Barrister advising multinational companies, SMEs, and individuals, and was a Lecturer of Contract Law and Tort Law to students undertaking the Law Society FE1 exams. She was also a former trustee of leading charity, Sightsavers International (Ireland)

She is a guest lecturer for the Public Relations Institute of Ireland.

Qualifications:

• Barrister-at-Law Degree
• Diploma in Law
• Bachelor of Arts (Hons)