Irene has 30 years of experience in natural resource management and climate (adaptation and mitigation), in Africa. Irene has undertaken more than 100 consulting assignments covering over 15 countries in Africa and is highly experienced in policy development, design, management and implementation of projects/programmes related to climate, natural resource management, pastoralism, conservation, carbon sequestration, climate-resilient food systems, water and sanitation, nutrition and health, conflict management, gender mainstreaming, livelihood strengthening. She has very strong analytical, monitoring and evaluation skills having worked to design project and programme M&E systems at organisational, community, national and regional levels. She is also conversant with the sustainable livelihood framework and key issues of poverty alleviation concerning rural livelihoods. 

Irene began her career as an academic in Kenyan universities (1993-1997), before transitioning into non-governmental (NGO) work in conservation and development sectors (1997-2003). Most of her career, (2003-2021) has been in management consulting. She was a Director of LTS Africa, a subsidiary of LTS International which was based in Scotland, UK. LTS later merged with the Niras Group based in Denmark and she became the first Niras Africa Regional Head Office Director, where she managed seven country offices (Kenya, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia). She was most recently the Climate Director for Africa, at the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (2021-2023). 

Irene is currently a Special Adviser on Agriculture, Adaptation and Resilience for the African Climate Foundation and is also pursuing her PH.D in social capital and urban resilience. She is a Trustee and Executive Committee Member of the East African Natural History Society and has worked in Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia (incl. Puntland, Somaliland, and Central Somalia), South Africa, Southern Sudan, Sudan (Khartoum), Tanzania, Uganda and Zanzibar.