With 5+ years in television and film production, I specialize in children’s programming, documentary filmmaking, and teaching. As an Associate Producer for Ahlan Simsim at Sesame Workshop, I oversee script reviews, rough cuts, and collaboration with teams across the US, UAE, Iraq, and Jordan to ensure culturally relevant, high-quality content. I directed a short documentary showcased at DOC NYC, a leading U.S. documentary festival. Additionally, as a Teacher Assistant at the New York Film Academy, I mentor students in documentary production and technical filmmaking. 

Bringing 10+ years of experience as an op-ed writer, investigative reporter, and media trainer, I have contributed to The Guardian and East London Lines. At the U.S. Embassy in Algiers, I designed workshops to train Algerian journalists and broadcasters to counter extremist propaganda. I also worked with BBC Media Action and Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism (ARIJ) to advance investigative reporting across the MENA region. I hold an MA in Journalism from Goldsmiths University of London and a degree in Documentary Filmmaking from the New York Film Academy. 

Since 2005, I have provided Arabic translation and localization services. At Sesame Workshop, I manage script localization, rough cuts, and social media content to ensure cultural and linguistic accuracy. Previously, I translated technical reports and media laws for BBC Media Action in both English and Arabic, and I adapted investigative reports for Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism (ARIJ) from Arabic to English. I also earned an Outstanding Quality Award for training 3,000+ diplomats and aid workers on the cultures of Iraq and the Arab Levant during a UN induction program.

I started writing short stories fueled by my grandparents' massive library. I was devouring Arabic translations of Russian and French classics like Victor Hugo and Gogol by the time I was 8. By middle school, I secretly read books by Egyptian feminists like Nawal El Saadawi and Ihsan Abdel Quddous, hiding them from my mother. In college in Baghdad, I traded banned books with friends like they were precious contraband.

My short stories have been published in the UK, US, Japan, and Iran. They appeared in Flash Fiction International (W. W. Norton & Company), Aesthetica magazine, and Carnegie Learning's Lenses on Literature. I contributed to the "Lanterns of Hope" project with the University of Iowa’s International Writing Program as a mentor and panelist and worked as a translator and copy editor for Jamila’s Thread & Other Stories, an anthology of Arabic folktales by Project Pen.

With 5+ years in counter-extremism, I have worked with organizations like Hedayah Center for Counter-Extremism, the U.S. Embassy in Algiers, and BBC Media Action. My contributions include co-authoring Planting the Seeds of the Poisonous Tree, developing counter-extremism curricula for Algerian broadcasters, and empowering Iraqi radio stations to counter misinformation. Additionally, I contributed to George Washington University’s ISIS Files project, translating and digitizing extremist documents to support global counter-extremism efforts. 

I have extensive experience in digital marketing and communication for nonprofits. At Sesame Workshop, I oversee social media content for Ahlan Simsim, managing synopses, SEO tags, reels, and culturally relevant messaging. At the International Organization for Migration (IOM), I revamped the website, edited newsletters, and managed public communications, tripling web traffic and increasing donor engagement. 

Since 2005, I have led projects addressing humanitarian emergencies, focusing on community resilience and education. With BBC Media Action, I supported local radio stations in Iraq during the Islamic State’s invasion to combat misinformation and promote accurate reporting. As UNESCO’s Syria Crisis Coordinator, I secured funding and expanded educational access for refugee children, collaborating with NGOs and local authorities during the peak of the crisis. 

I have secured over $4 million for international projects, leveraging 7+ years of experience in grant writing and donor relations. I’ve worked with major donors, including the British Foreign Commonwealth Office, USAID, DFID, and the Qatari government, managing progress and financial reporting to maintain strong relationships and achieve impactful outcomes in the MENA region.