About Me

Professional bio:

Jacquie Severs works at the intersection of place, identity and economic development. A marketing executive and place branding strategist with more than two decades of experience, Jacquie has worked with cultural institutions, consumer brands, and government organizations. Jacquie’s work helps communities navigate change: economic transitions, repositioning challenges, the gap between how a place has been perceived and what it wants to become.

Her practice integrates marketing strategy, narrative theory, and stakeholder alignment to develop place brands that hold up under scrutiny. Place brands built not on aspiration alone, but on evidence. Jacquie holds a Master's degree in Place Branding, with research focused on the role of identity and narrative in regional economic development. She is particularly interested in how creativity can serve as an instrument of inclusive growth, and how the stories communities tell about themselves shape the futures they're able to build.

Jacquie is passionate about what makes places great and building community. Whether through consulting or speaking engagements, Jacquie enjoys discussing how effective place branding strategies can make a real difference.

Hi, I’m Jacquie.

I promote places to attract trade, talent and tourists, with the ultimate goal of creating jobs and fostering prosperity. I completed a Masters in Place Branding at Middlesex University in the UK under Dr. Giannina Warren. My thesis focused on place branding strategies as employed in attracting foreign direct investment.

Prior to my current work in economic development I gathered 20 years of award-winning marketing experience developing and promoting brands in a broad range of categories—from fashion and home décor, to craft beer and the museum sector.

I usually say I’m a graphic designer by trade, and the years at George Brown Polytechnic School of Design and my early career in the field deeply influenced my view on great marketing. The field of Graphic Design has afforded me an incredible network of marketing peers and colleagues. Over the years I have gathered education credentials from Middlesex University, George Brown, University of Guelph, University of Waterloo and Durham College. I consider myself to be a lifelong learner, not the least of which includes a goal of having mastery over every single new social media platform that emerges.

I am a community enthusiast (both digital and in real life) and I love to talk about how marketing influences our worldview; from the typeface used on a sign to the narratives that influence our understanding of a destination. If you’d like to connect please send me a message through my contact form or via Linkedin.