Aisha

Aisha Kehoe Down
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JOURNALIST AND WRITER
Journalist with six years of experience leading investigations into corruption and illicit finance in the Middle
East, and three years reporting on business, national news and environment from Cambodia to Ukraine.
Skilled at leading projects, analysis and investigations; capable of producing clear copy on tight deadlines.
Experienced working in high-pressure and challenging environments, practiced at risk assessment and
good security practices. Proven collaborator with years of experience in multinational newsrooms.

EXPERIENCE
UNISHKA Research LLC May 2024 - present
Leading anti-corruption research service with government and civil society clients

Senior Investigator
Editor and investigator for dossiers on illicit finance in the Middle East, focused on Iraq, Iran and the
broader MENA region.
Lead on project to identify and address key capacity-building objectives of USAID-funded malaria
elimination programming in Cambodia.

Pall Mall Communications December 2023 - October 2024
UK strategic communications consultancy focused on the Middle East

Middle East Analyst
On a short-term contract, assessed and curated 20+ academic and think tank sources each day to produce
a 1500-word analytical brief on breaking developments in Middle East politics and business, edited by UK
diplomats for a high-level government client in the Gulf.

OCCRP August 2018 - May 2024
Leading consortium of investigative journalists focused on organized crime

Investigative Journalist
Developed and led cross-border investigations on corruption and organized crime in a rigorous, high-
pressure environment. Obtained documentary evidence from a broad range of human sources to
substantiate claims of corruption and malfeasance, fact-checked to a UK legal standard. Regionally
focused on the Middle East and Sahel. Top achievements include:

Led a hard-hitting investigation into how the US banking system has enabled an estimated $400 billion
worth of fraud at the Central Bank of Iraq, based on documentary evidence sourced in Baghdad.
Led a series of investigations into bribery and terror finance in the Sahel, which led to a lawsuit in
Burkina Faso.
Recognized for being one of OCCRP’s most capable journalists at handling human sources.
Promoted twice at OCCRP.

Kyiv Post April 2018 - August 2018
Ukraine’s top English-language newspaper

Web Editor and Business Reporter
Edited the online presence of Ukraine's largest English-language daily newspaper, organizing the front page
and following breaking stories minute by minute. Wrote on Ukrainian business, politics, and real estate.
Ukraine Business Journal October 2017 - April 2018
English-language journal focused on Ukraine’s economy

Managing Editor
Led a team of three journalists, managing the production of monthly supplements focused on sectors of
Ukraine's economy. Wrote focused stories on information technology, agriculture and infrastructure
development in Ukraine.

The Cambodia Daily March 2016 - April 2017
Cambodia’s leading English-language national newspaper

Associate Editor
On a daily deadline, covered environmental crime, wildlife trafficking and illegal logging as the northeastern
reporter for Cambodia’s award-winning national newspaper. Investigated land disputes, broke stories on
business, corruption and finance, and secured rare interviews with top officials and company executives
implicated in human rights abuses.

Freelance June 2015 - March 2019

Wrote for VICE, NPR, The Daily Beast, The Colorado Sun and many others, telling stories from Cambodia’s
last elephant catcher to the trial of a Balkan war criminal. Broke a viral story about a $40,000 toilet built for
Princess Sirindhorn of Thailand, later picked up in outlets including the BBC and The Telegraph.

EDUCATION
Harvard College
A.B., Physics and English, March 2015
Magna Cum Laude with Highest Honors

References and work samples available upon request.