Nigel Brennan

Nigel Brennan is a freelance photojournalist, bestselling author and consultant, best known for surviving a fifteen-month hostage ordeal in Somalia between 2008 and 2009. Born and raised on a 5,500-acre property near Moree in North West NSW, Nigel’s early career included hospitality management before discovering a passion for photography during his travels through Europe and Asia. He later studied Photojournalism at Griffith University’s Queensland College of Art, earning recognition as a finalist in both the Leica Documentary Awards and the National Photographic Portrait Prize.

In 2008, Nigel travelled to Mogadishu with Canadian journalist Amanda Lindhout to document the humanitarian impact of 20 years of conflict, drought and food insecurity. Four days after arriving, they were ambushed and kidnapped by a criminal gang, held in isolation and often darkness for 462 days. After a failed escape attempt and months of captivity, they were finally released following payment of a ransom. At the time, Nigel was the longest-held living Australian captive outside a prisoner-of-war situation.

Since returning to Australia, Nigel has rebuilt his life and established himself as a leading consultant specialising in extortion response, international risk management and emergency management. He advises individuals, corporations and government agencies, and has worked with the ABC, Channel Nine, SBS, Reuters and the BBC to prepare journalists operating in hostile environments.

Nigel’s story of survival and resilience has been captured in his bestselling book, The Price of Life, and he is a highly sought-after keynote speaker. He shares his firsthand experiences of adversity, endurance and forgiveness, providing audiences with insights into human courage, crisis management, leadership under pressure and the power of perspective. His work combines personal narrative, professional expertise and practical lessons that resonate across corporate, academic and government audiences.

Nigel’s photography continues to be exhibited in galleries and held in private collections across Australia, demonstrating the same eye for detail and storytelling that has defined his career in journalism and consultancy.