Misconduct alleged in management of Square Kilometer Array in Australia
According to a whistle-blower, there has been financial misconduct in international management of the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) being built in remote western Australia.
In response to the disclosure, a copy of which has been seen by the Guardian, Zerbi has initiated an investigation into claims that public funds from member states have been lost through trading accounts – and then covered up by the organisation through the shuffling of funds internally.
At the centre of the misconduct allegations is a claim that at least £12m (A$25.1m) was lost through investment in three money market funds, with one fund allegedly losing 45% of its value. The Guardian has seen balance sheet extracts and statements that appear to confirm the investments by the SKAO, which is headquartered at the Jodrell Bank Observatory near Manchester.
The report also calls for an investigation into claims funds are being shifted within the organisation, and currency fluctuations being fabricated to conceal these losses from the governing council overseeing the project.
The project is significantly overbudget.
SKA management denies the alliegations, though it has at the same time begun its own investigation.
This corruption likely stems from the project’s international setup, which apparantly makes it “immune from normal legal processes and exempt from paying tax.” In addition, “international staff employed on the project in Australia are hired on diplomatic visas.” Under these conditions we should not be surprised if some hanky-panky with large sums of money took place.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
According to a whistle-blower, there has been financial misconduct in international management of the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) being built in remote western Australia.
In response to the disclosure, a copy of which has been seen by the Guardian, Zerbi has initiated an investigation into claims that public funds from member states have been lost through trading accounts – and then covered up by the organisation through the shuffling of funds internally.
At the centre of the misconduct allegations is a claim that at least £12m (A$25.1m) was lost through investment in three money market funds, with one fund allegedly losing 45% of its value. The Guardian has seen balance sheet extracts and statements that appear to confirm the investments by the SKAO, which is headquartered at the Jodrell Bank Observatory near Manchester.
The report also calls for an investigation into claims funds are being shifted within the organisation, and currency fluctuations being fabricated to conceal these losses from the governing council overseeing the project.
The project is significantly overbudget.
SKA management denies the alliegations, though it has at the same time begun its own investigation.
This corruption likely stems from the project’s international setup, which apparantly makes it “immune from normal legal processes and exempt from paying tax.” In addition, “international staff employed on the project in Australia are hired on diplomatic visas.” Under these conditions we should not be surprised if some hanky-panky with large sums of money took place.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
“Square Array Kilometer”
That’s Square Kilometer Array (SKA), in both the headline and the first sentence.
Unsupervised, unaccountable access to millions? Heck, yeah, let’s play the lottery! If we win, money in our pocket; if we lose, oh, well. It’s just someone else’s money.
Disappointing to see Jodrell Bank associated with this. Their legacy deserves better.
Another example of engineering playing second fiddle to moneymen.
Back in 6th grade, I am other members of the class were to go on a trip—money set aside for it in the charge of the Mom of one girl.
“Sorry”
No trip.
I had a workmate who was in charge of the finances for a small housing association, in charge of funds for upkeep of the buildings etc.
She fell for the Amway pyramid scheme, hook line and sinker and “invested” the funds hoping to turn a profit on someone else’s money.
I don’t think she did time, but got hit with a huge fine… Which under Swedish law can be drawn direct from your salary. By all accounts she now lives in a much more modest apartment.
Corruption is very much worldwide.
Its those dang Aussies. they are just like those Canadians except they never apologize.
It began like any other science dream — the world’s largest telescope, built by dozens of nations to listen to the universe. But beneath the cosmic vision, SKAO’s Chief Financial Officer had another kind of signal to manage: the numbers.
The play was subtle.
Millions of euros from member states were quietly parked in money market funds — supposedly safe, short-term instruments. But when the funds turned volatile in 2022–2023, the CFO didn’t declare losses. Instead, she used “currency revaluation” entries to mask them. A £1.6 million “loss” in July was reversed with a £1.8 million “gain” in August — no trades, no real income, just a digital balancing act.
On paper, the books looked fine.
In reality, more than £11.8 million of public money had evaporated.
When questions came, the CFO pointed to auditors and “foreign exchange fluctuations.” But PwC — the same firm later discredited in other audit scandals — signed off without probing the mismatch between accounting entries and actual market movements. Internally, the CFO was celebrated for “managing exposure.” In truth, she was managing perception.
Meanwhile, engineers were left scrambling for project cash as financial black holes grew. Procurement budgets were mysteriously reshuffled, Indigenous partnership funds delayed, and internal investigators quietly sidelined. Those who asked too many questions — like the Technical Design Authority who exposed the discrepancy — found their emails locked, positions “restructured,” and reputations questioned.
At the top, Director-General Phil Diamond kept his telescope steady on retirement. He had shepherded SKA from idea to concrete, but by 2025 he seemed intent on leaving with “no scandal under his watch.” When confronted with the mounting allegations, insiders say his response was classic institutional containment:
“Let Council handle it.”
Council never did. They commissioned polite reviews, redacted reports, and waited for time to pass — the oldest trick in international governance.
By then, the CFO had already secured her legacy: a trail of manipulated accounts buried under immunity, an untouched bonus, and a spotless resignation letter.
SKAO’s scientists still talk about “first light.”
The accountants had already seen it — when millions disappeared in a flash.
Ya right. Zerbi sounds like an Italian name, these folks are known for corruption. Wonder why the UK govt is not stepping in… I heard this venezuelan cartel defending law firm squires patton bog is involved in this case …since 2021. Back few years I went to visit the kids in the school at the Jordi campus.. and the guys their were speaking about this lady called Fiona Davenport who keeps paying these lawyers like 40-50k pounds a year to deal with their dark games.
Wow… I knew something was wrong when the Brits & Chinese shake hands hah! This is mind boggling….bunch of science folks mix up with market folks to launder public funds and of course retire heavily. I bet few of them have those country side Manchester villas & some in Swiss apls for sure.
What a shame! Colonial mentality sucks..
All these science folks are geeks who now realize they need to make dough :)
Jenny Park:
Thanks.