Award-winning Creative Director who loves shaping copy-led storytelling for global brands across broadcast, digital, and emerging tech. I believe ideas come first, and strong writing is the bridge between strategy and execution. I’ve led multidisciplinary teams on large-scale campaigns, translating complex concepts into emotionally engaging narratives that drive commercial impact. Based in Auckland, I work across contract and project engagements—from writing and producing podcasts to pitching immersive AI activations. I’m passionate about mentoring talent, building autonomous, collaborative teams, and using storytelling to amplify brands and empower people, including frontline support storytelling through programs like Orange Sky.

Kirrily Denny

Award-winning Creative Director who loves shaping copy-led storytelling for global brands across broadcast, digital, and emerging tech. I believe ideas come first, and strong writing is the bridge between strategy and execution. I’ve led multidisciplinary teams on large-scale campaigns, translating complex concepts into emotionally engaging narratives that drive commercial impact. Based in Auckland, I work across contract and project engagements—from writing and producing podcasts to pitching immersive AI activations. I’m passionate about mentoring talent, building autonomous, collaborative teams, and using storytelling to amplify brands and empower people, including frontline support storytelling through programs like Orange Sky.

Available to hire

Award-winning Creative Director who loves shaping copy-led storytelling for global brands across broadcast, digital, and emerging tech. I believe ideas come first, and strong writing is the bridge between strategy and execution. I’ve led multidisciplinary teams on large-scale campaigns, translating complex concepts into emotionally engaging narratives that drive commercial impact.

Based in Auckland, I work across contract and project engagements—from writing and producing podcasts to pitching immersive AI activations. I’m passionate about mentoring talent, building autonomous, collaborative teams, and using storytelling to amplify brands and empower people, including frontline support storytelling through programs like Orange Sky.

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Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Creative Services at Feral Films Ltd | Contract & Project Work
February 1, 2022 - Present
Contract & project work including writing, producing, and hosting a podcast series (in production), drama and digital film-making workshops, documentary series development
Senior Producer at HyperCinema
June 17, 2025 - August 24, 2025
Pitch development for immersive generative AI live activations for tech start-up.
Volunteer & Storyteller at Orange Sky
February 1, 2022 - Present
Combining frontline support with storytelling to support people experiencing homelessness.
Creative Director - Customer Success at Soul Machines
August 1, 2021 - January 31, 2022
Led multidisciplinary teams delivering B2B SaaS client solutions; improved customer satisfaction; founded SM Academy for autonomous digital assistants; amplified brand visibility as a public speaker.
Head of Conversation & Persona Design at Soul Machines
August 1, 2019 - August 31, 2021
Pioneered Conversational AI Design methodology; founded The Writers’ Room e-learning certification; led global CX workshops achieving high NPS.
Creative Editorial Director at Soul Machines
May 1, 2017 - August 31, 2019
Spearheaded multi-channel storytelling that simplified complex value propositions; produced brand activations for major events to elevate visibility.
Head of News and Current Affairs Promotions at Three / Mediaworks
September 1, 2014 - July 31, 2016
Delivered award-winning, multi-platform campaigns; launched the Paul Henry breakfast show; mentored producers and shaped integrated campaigns.
Creative Producer at Blacksand, TVNZ
October 1, 2012 - September 30, 2014
Leveraged writing and editing to deliver top-tier promotional content; scripted and produced campaigns including the Agent Anna launch.
Company Director at Feral Films Ltd
March 1, 2008 - October 31, 2012
Wrote, directed, filmed, and edited London-based stories; managed bilingual and international projects.
Senior Director at Mai Time, TVNZ
January 1, 2006 - May 31, 2007
Directed creative vision, strategy, and execution of a flagship Māori youth magazine show; mentored emerging directors.
Writer | Producer | Host – Podcast series (in production) at Contract & Project Work
February 1, 2022 - Present
Writer, producer and host for an ongoing podcast series; responsible for concept development, scripting, production coordination and guest management.
Senior Producer – HyperCinema at HyperCinema
February 1, 2022 - Present
Pitch development for immersive generative AI live activations for a tech start-up.
Head of News and Current Affairs Promotions at Three (MediaWorks)
September 1, 2014 - July 31, 2016
Delivered award-winning, multi-platform campaigns, including the launch of the Paul Henry breakfast show, driving an 80% increase in morning ratings. Partnered with senior stakeholders and mentored producers, shaping integrated campaigns that significantly grew audiences and elevated departmental creativity.

Education

Digital Marketing Professional Certificate at Content Marketing Institute
January 1, 2025 - February 4, 2026
Introduction to NZ Conservation at NMIT
January 1, 2023 - January 1, 2023
Marine Mammal Media at NMIT
January 1, 2023 - January 1, 2023
PostGraduate Certificate of Education (Secondary) - PGCE at Goldsmiths College, University of London
September 9, 1996 - August 1, 1997
Fully qualified secondary teacher in Drama
MA English Literature & Theatre Studies (Honours 2:1) at University of Glasgow
October 1, 1990 - July 18, 1994
Specialism in Directing, Subsidiary subjects in Anthropology and Italian, 6-month Erasmus exchange to the University of Amsterdam, President of Glasgow University Theatre.
PGCE Postgraduate Certificate of Education (Secondary) Drama at Goldsmiths College, University of London
January 11, 2030 - February 4, 2026
MA (Honours) English Literature & Theatre Studies at University of Glasgow
January 11, 2030 - February 4, 2026

Qualifications

Digital Marketing Professional Certificate
March 31, 2025 - May 1, 2025
Professional certificate covering Marketing, Content Marketing, Technical SEO, Email Marketing, Strategic Content Marketing, eCommerce Marketing, Analytics, Conversation Rate Optimisation
Introduction to NZ Conservation
November 1, 2023 - December 4, 2023
Marine Mammal Media
November 18, 2023 - November 18, 2023
PostGraduate Certificate of Education (Secondary) - PGCE
September 9, 1996 - July 28, 1997
Training as Fully Qualified Teacher in Secondary education in Drama
MA English Literature & Theatre Studies
October 8, 1990 - July 25, 1994
Specialism in Directing, subsidiary subjects in Anthropology and Italian, 6-month Erasmus exchange to University of Amsterdam, President of Glasgow University Theatre
Digital Marketing Professional Certificate
January 1, 2022 - January 1, 2025
AI and Generative AI for Video Content Creation
January 1, 2022 - January 1, 2025
ChatGPT for Project Managers
January 1, 2022 - January 1, 2025
UX Foundations - Storytelling
January 1, 2022 - January 1, 2025
Social Media Stories
January 1, 2022 - January 1, 2025
Introduction to NZ Conservation Project Jonah
January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023
Marine Mammal Media
January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023
Mentor - Superbots Industry Immersion Program
January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Software & Internet, Education, Professional Services, Non-Profit Organization
    paper When Roman Met Sam | Soul Machines

    When Roman Met Sam was a YouTube series and an innovative way to raise brand awareness. The series questions the misperceptions of artificial intelligence and uncovers how relatable digital people can be as they face a series of challenges that in reality, are the same challenges we, as humans, face.

    https://www.twine.net/signin

    paper Award-winning Paul Henry Launch Campaign | THREE

    A dynamic launch campaign for the new breakfast show on THREE featuring the well-known and oftentimes controversial broadcaster Paul Henry. In a television first, this morning show was simulcast across radio, TV, and online. ‘Mornings will never be the same’ was our tagline and to tie in with the groundbreaking nature of the format, we chose to place the campaign in the future. And so in came the spacesuit, and we jettisoned off.

    Promax Awards: Gold - Best News and Current Affairs, Silver - Best Campaign

    https://www.twine.net/signin

    paper Ad Campaign for print, online and digital billboards | RadioLive

    BRIEF: To draw attention to the high standard of the host line-up for RadioLIVE - a talkback radio that focuses on news and public opinion - with the aim of increasing audience listeners.

    In print, the image of the brains features on one page and on turning the page reveals the line-up, whilst on digital billboards, the image of the brains rotates to reveal the presenters.

    https://www.twine.net/signin

    paper Campaign and Social Media Experiential Stunt | TVNZ

    Show: Agent Anna.
    About: Dramedy series for TVNZ featuring Robyn Malcolm as a real estate agent.

    Shot in an actual rental home, the stunt features Robyn Malcolm in character as klutzy Anna Kingston showing real visitors—and potential tenants—around a home, which has been set up with a variety of booby traps that result in some truly and entertaining awkward interactions.

    https://www.twine.net/signin