Born in Polatsk in 1949, Smirnova graduated from Belarusian Polytechnic Institute in 1971. Upon graduation, she began working at BelNDIPgoradagudaunitsva, where she remained throughout her career, rising to the head of architects group. In 1985, she received continuous education diploma from Moscow Institute of Architecture. Since 1996, she has been a deputy director for architecture at BelNDIPgoradagudaunitsva.

Smirnova participated in the design of the masterplan for Vitebsk (1973, 1983, 2003) and for Vitebsk city center (2005), Garadok (1977), and for cities Pastavy (1976), Bygoml (1974-1980), Brest, Mahileu, and Grodna (all 2003). Her other work included detailed plans for residential neighborhoods in Vitebsk (1984, 1987) and Paunochny (1979), the project of urban regeneration of the historic center of Vitebsk (1985), reconstruction of Zyrovichy monastery (2000). In 2009, she designed the masterplan for Disneyland entertainment park near Minsk (unrealized project).