Desislava McIlwraith

Experience

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  Bulgarian Cultural Institute London

  Jan 2013 - Jun 2013

  Press & Events Assistant

  • Website updates• Press release production• Event assistance & Guest list management (including literary readings, exhibition openings, gala concerts hosted by the Bulgarian Ambassador in London)• Elections assistance

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  Freelance

  Aug 2013 - Feb 2021

  Freelance Writer

  Commissioned editorial work includes:• i-D: Interview with mime artist and choreographer Lindsay Kemp who has previously worked with David Bowie and Kate Bush.• InStyle China: Interview with the founders of fashion brand Eytys• Grazia: Fashion week coverage and art features• Fashion Roundtable: Op-eds and interviews• 1 Granary

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  Dazed & Confused

  Mar 2015 - Apr 2015

  Fashion Features Intern

  • Writing Fashion News• Pitching news stories• Content research• Crediting and captioning images• Sub-editing• Interview prep

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  British Fashion Council

  Sept 2015 - Sept 2015

  Registration Assistant

  • Accrediting buyers and journalists during LFW• Assisting the head of PR• Operating with the database

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  Selfridges

  Jan 2016 - Apr 2016

  • Digital Copywriting• Fit&Measure copy production• Editing• Proofreading • Daily monitoring of national publications, scanning them and saving it in the office database• Managing pulls and returns for photo shoots• Event Assistance• Nucleus system training along with other servers for communicating internal information• Regular update of the weekly and monthly coverage boards for the chief executives. • Digital Copywriting

  • Freelance Copywriter

    Mar 2016 - Apr 2016

  • Press Office Intern

    Jan 2016 - Feb 2016
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  The Times

  May 2016 - Jun 2016

  Fashion Editorial Assistant

  • Editorial assistance• Photoshoot assistance• Copywriting• Transcribing• Writing for the weekly "Boutique of the Week" column

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  Teeth Magazine

  Sept 2016 - Feb 2021

  Contributing Editor

  Print features include interviews with notable figures such as fashion designer Harris Reed, actress Jaime King, editor and stylist Carine Roitfeld, artist Billie Eilish, and others.

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  Chalayan LLP

  Jan 2018 - Apr 2018

  Assistant to Commercial Director

  • Press release production• Weekly newsletter production• Events management, including AW18 fashion event, February 2018• Assistance with production of seasonal catalogue• Translation services• Social media management• Creative production assistance

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  CP Concept Ltd

  Dec 2019 - Aug 2020

  PR & Communications Executive

  • Mithridate SS20 digital campaign production and management• CP Concept press day set up and management• Mithridate LFW AW20 event management at the V&A in partnership with Harper’s Bazaar• UK & China Brand Strategy development

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  MKPR.co.uk

  Jan 2020 - Jan 2022

  Founder & Freelance Communications Consultant

  • Clients include: Keds UK, Sperry Europe, Kool & Konscious, ioannes, ANCC Studio, Vault of Guise, MIERIS, SOTOS NAKIS, No Grey Area and others.• Digital content and strategy development for environmentally & socially sustainable clients• Press release production in Bulgarian and English

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  European Parliament

  Oct 2020 - Feb 2021

  PR & Communications @DG Communication

  • Active participation in administrative and editorial tasks• Coordination and assistance during organisation of digital events, webinars and media briefings in the country (preparation of communication materials, documents, etc.)• Assisting the Head of the EPLO with the preparation of speeches, drafting notes, research, analysis and reports)• Preparation of promotional materials, press releases and translation• Creation & editing of a podcast, popularised on Confluence (the EP's internal communications system) and mentioned twice in the Head of Directorate’s newsletter Show less

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  European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)

  May 2021 - Dec 2021

  Media Relations at Communication, Engagement & Cooperation Department

  • Media monitoring of the Glyphosate dossier and development and dissemination of an internal newsletter which was shared across the whole organisation; • Media monitoring (press review, briefings, political meetings review, weekly media wrap-up, ad hoc monitoring, social media monitoring);• Media analysis and interview briefings (media and journalists' background research);• Media Relations team support (organisation of team meetings, EFSA's press management, update of media contacts list, media requests and interviews, maintenance and updating of internal media relations microsite, development of presentation materials). Show less

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  Flint Culture

  Jan 2022 - now

  • Digital Director, Strategy & Partnerships

    May 2024 - now

  • Digital Account Director

    Jun 2023 - now

  • Senior Digital Account Manager

    Dec 2022 - Jun 2023

  • Digital Account Manager

    Jan 2022 - Nov 2022