Elizabeth Blackney

Elizabeth Blackney is a strategic communications and human rights professional with more than 20 years of experience helping organizations navigate complex issues, crises, and critical moments. She is the Founder of GirlHQ Consulting and MedusaHQ on Substack, where she applies her expertise in strategy, storytelling, communications, and justice. Her career has included authoring more than 750 speeches for international forums such as the United Nations, World Bank, and World Economic Forum, as well as managing high-pressure communications and securing major media coverage.

Elizabeth is particularly recognized for her work with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Dr. Denis Mukwege, serving as his Senior Adviser and Media Director and helping elevate global awareness of conflict-related sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Her work with survivors, human rights leaders, journalists, and international organizations contributed to ethical journalism protocols centered on consent, dignity, and survivor agency. She has also advocated for conflict-minerals legislation and coordinated communications for Every Woman Treaty across 1,700 activists and 840 organizations in 128 countries.

Beyond strategic communications and human rights advocacy, Elizabeth has demonstrated a strong commitment to arts, culture, and community engagement. As Executive Director of The Cook Foundation and Founding Director of the Fine Arts Museum of Gloucester, she championed community-centered cultural programming and developed the Community Curation process to bring marginalized voices into museum exhibitions. She has served on nonprofit and community boards, including An Occasion for the Arts, and has delivered keynotes at institutions including the World Bank, Dartmouth College, George Washington University, and Virginia Commonwealth University. Her professional work is grounded in integrity, collaboration, dignity, and the belief that storytelling can contribute to greater visibility, justice, and social change.