INTEGRATED PLANNING, CREATIVE & ACTIVATION
Campaigns, Experiences, Content, Digital, Events & Installations.

ABOUT SHIRRA
A MARKETING, BRAND EXPERIENCE, & COMMS PLANNING EXPERT
A specialist digital, events and integrated heavyweight marketeer, regularly working with leading brands to develop ideas and pitches that explore how brand experiences can sit centrally in the integrated marcomms planning process. She provides fresh, engaging content concepts for advertising creative and through-the-line digital campaigns. Also a seasoned and award winning exec producer, creating immersive environments, digital products, pop-ups and campaigns globally across all key sectors.
With over 20 years experience, Shirra is Marketing and Creative Services Director at her boutique experiential consultancy; Electrify, having previously worked also founded Blazinstar where she ran the studio and client projects till 2013.
Often designing and delivering creative workshops and talks for brands such as adidas, L'Oreal Luxe and YSL on various marketing communications topics, she likes to inspire clients to develop ideas and strategies which are digital first and maximise the benefits of combining live brand experiences, tech and social media.
Shirra is also the first UK author to have written a book on Experiential Marketing, her book titled ‘Experiential Marketing, a Practical Guide to Interactive Brand Experiences’ 2nd edition, was recently updated and re-written for its 10 year anniversary, and sells in all major booksellers across international markets.
Once a Visiting Professor at the London Metropolitan University, she was awarded an honorary title having helped them develop the first Master’s degree on Experiential Marketing in the UK “Experiential Meets Digital”. She has been a guest speaker on BBC radio, alongside other global media channels, and writes regularly for publications such as Marketing Week.
The book is published by Kogan Page, Europe’s leading independent business publisher. Shirra has flown around the globe host workshops and seminars for global brands and events agencies, teaching the BETTER and SET MESSAGE planning methodologies that she speaks about in her book.
A creative marketer, writer, strategist, and entrepreneur – Smilansky is a recognised player and pioneer in the non-traditional marketing field.
CV HIGHLIGHTS
KEY WORK EXPERIENCE & TRAINING
MARKETING & CREATIVE SERVICES DIRECTOR - ELECTRIFY
MAY 2013 - ONGOING
Strategy: creating and applying strategic frameworks both proprietary agency models and bespoke methodologies designed for clients comms planning during consulting work. Creative: art direction, idea generation, innovation, specialising in live brand experiences, physical / tec
integration, digital strategy, and amplifying real world experiences through social media and ATL channels
MARKETING DIRECTOR - BLAZINSTAR
JANUARY 2005- MARCH 2013
Line managed various teams and the creative studio. Ran the studio which was responsible for all agency and client conceptual work, 2D/3D design, marcomms planning, digital production and management.
COMMS MANAGER - FRONTLINE /ARNOLD KLP
APRIL 2002 - JANUARY 2004
Ran all creative and communications for a boutique guerrilla marketing and youth marketing division of KLP Europe; Frontline Street Media. Campaigns were specialised in engaging youth audiences and niche groups with non-traditional media.
EVENTS & GUERRILLA MARKETING DIRECTOR - TUNNEL NYC
JULY 2000 - JANUARY 2002
Head of guerrilla marketing and coordinator of special events at Tunnel and Limelight nightclubs in New York City. Responsible for street team distribution, fly-posting campaigns, events management and creative branding for one off and regular nightclub events and sponsor activations.
EDUCATION
London Metropolitan University - CIM Professional Diploma in Marketing, Pts: Marketing Planning and Marketing Communications.
Central St Martins - Fashion Folio Pt 1
TESTIMONIALS
WHAT'S BEING SAID ABOUT SHIRRA AND HER BOOK...

'A very clearly written and inspiring guide (Shirra's book), demonstrating a unique approach to integrated marketing that carefully explains the methodology in a concise and effective manner.'
HAMISH MILLAR, MARKETING MANAGER, PERNOD RICARD UK

'You did awesome work for us as production designer on the Panasonic shoot, great job and the video now has millions of likes!'
TOM BOGDA, EXEC PRODUCER, HMX MEDIA

'Thank-you for the recent talk and planning model you delivered on creativity at our adidas leadership summit 17, everyone was truly inspired and will be taking your creative framework forward.'
TONY COOKE, HR DIRECTOR, ADIDAS GROUP
EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING
A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO INTERACTIVE BRAND EXPERIENCES - LAUNCH PARTY, SENSES@ SKETCH
