Born in England, raised in Mauritius, and educated in Canada, South Africa and The Netherlands, Shirley brings a truly global perspective to the Creative Women Platform. Her career spans over 18 countries – from El Salvador to Moldova, Madagascar to Singapore – and combines deep experience in corporate transformation, entrepreneurship, and nonprofit governance.

With a BSc Honours in Actuarial Science and an MBA, she has built a career that fuses analytical rigour with strategic vision. Shirley began her professional journey in Toronto in pension fund risk analysis before moving into transformational roles with global powerhouses such as GE Capital, Siemens, and France Telecom. With a focus on execution and clarity, she specialises in translating complex strategies into actionable, results-driven workstreams.

Entrepreneurial by nature, Shirley launched the first-ever hop-on hop-off historical tour of Port-Louis, Mauritius, an innovative venture that earned features in major guidebooks including The Lonely Planet. She is also the founder and director of a London-based property and lettings company, a reflection of her passion for hospitality and delivering exceptional guest experiences.

Her advocacy for women is longstanding and deep-rooted. In 2014, she co-founded the London LEAN IN Chapter and established her own local circle in West London.

As a Trustee of Daisy Network, a UK-based charity supporting women with Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI), she brought her strategic expertise to an under-represented area of women’s health. In this role, she led a full organisational rebrand, oversaw public engagement campaigns and launched the charity’s international expansion. Her work significantly elevated the charity’s visibility and impact, raising awareness to a women’s health issue that affects 1 in 100 women under 40, ensuring more women worldwide have access to support and resources.

She is also a founding member of PLAYBOOK, the leading leadership platform and network for women in business across the MENA region.

Now back in London after four years in Saudi Arabia, Shirley continues to serve on several board committees, contributing her insight in governance, compliance, and strategic oversight. As a Board Member, Shirley brings her global mindset, entrepreneurial drive, and a passion for meaningful change and commitment to advancing women’s leadership and visibility across borders and industries.