Who is John Macgowan?

John Macgowan is a former Liberal Party staffer who gained significant attention during the 2019 trial of Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins' alleged rape by a senior colleague in Parliament House. Macgowan was present during the early stages of Higgins' trial and was often seen accompanying her in court.

Born in 1988, Macgowan grew up in Sydney and attended Sydney Grammar School. He later studied at the University of Sydney, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Arts and a Master's degree in International Relations. After completing his education, Macgowan worked as a research officer for the New South Wales Parliament from 2011 to 2013.

In 2014, Macgowan joined the Liberal Party as a media advisor to then-Prime Minister Tony Abbott. He later worked for various senior Liberal politicians, including Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison. Macgowan was also a key figure in the successful 2016 campaign to re-elect Malcolm Turnbull as Prime Minister.

In 2019, Macgowan left his role as a senior adviser to then-Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price to work as a media advisor for Brittany Higgins. Higgins had accused a senior colleague, Bruce Lehrmann, of raping her in a ministerial office in Parliament House in 2019. Macgowan's role was to help manage Higgins' media appearances and communications during the ensuing controversy.

Macgowan's presence at Higgins' trial drew significant media attention due to his close association with the Liberal Party and high-profile politicians. However, it's important to note that Macgowan was not a witness in the trial and did not testify. He was simply there to support Higgins during a difficult time.

After Higgins' trial concluded in March 2021, Macgowan returned to work as a media advisor for the Department of Defence. He has not made any public statements about his role in Higgins' case since then.

In summary, John Macgowan is a former Liberal Party staffer who worked as a media advisor for Brittany Higgins during her rape trial. He gained significant media attention due to his close association with the Liberal Party and high-profile politicians. Macgowan was not a witness in the trial and has since returned to work for the Department of Defence.