Aoife McCarthy is a seasoned communications architect with more than two decades of experience managing communications and public affairs across the political, corporate, and energy sectors. With deep expertise in policy communications and crisis management, she has shaped narratives around pivotal moments in recent history—from the Iran nuclear negotiations to landmark climate agreements and groundbreaking tech policy battles. At organizations, including the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, and several private sector entities, she has consistently transformed complex policy challenges into compelling public narratives that drive real-world change.
At SKDK, Aoife leads the Energy and Clean Technology practice, helping organizations navigate an evolving regulatory landscape while developing strategic communications campaigns surrounding complex issues and reputational challenges.
Before joining SKDK, Aoife headed federal policy communications at Instacart, where she led national communications to educate stakeholders on policy, regulatory issues, and legislation. While at Instacart, Aoife designed a federal legislative playbook and state-by-state tactics, producing tailored strategies that included the California Proposition 22 narrative, preserving app-based workers’ option to be independent contractors.
During the Obama administration, Aoife served as the director of public affairs for the U.S. Department of Energy, where she was the lead advisor to the U.S. Secretary of Energy on all strategic communications issues and message development in key subject matter areas. She also served as the communications director at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in New York, where she oversaw the press and public diplomacy section of the mission and the messaging surrounding the long-term communications priorities of the administration.
Before joining the government, Aoife provided counsel to clients as part of a political consulting firm focusing on reputational crises. Aoife was also a reporter for POLITICO as part of the team that launched the publication and wrote for National Journal’s Hotline, a daily political briefing, where she served as poll editor and wrote a weekly column analyzing national and state poll trends.
Aoife’s career started in conducting opposition research for political campaigns across the country and writing direct mail, for which she earned two Pollie Awards from the American Association of Political Consultants (AAPC).
Aoife holds a bachelor’s degree from George Washington University and an MBA from Presidio Graduate School, focusing on sustainable solutions. Aoife is a native of Ireland and a Boston area transplant residing in Washington, D.C.
