Irenia is a Mentor, Startup Catalyst and Connector. With a passion for International Business, Entrepreneurship and Volunteering in her community, Irenia’s Mantra is “Make Meaning Change.”
Irenia joined the Public Service in 2005 and has been working to drive Economic Development in New Brunswick. Irenia has contributed to numerous Regional and International initiatives relating to Trade Development and Innovation including: coordinating and implementing strategies to drive business development success working alongside government, industry, non-governmental organizations and academic partners.
Irenia's innovative style, spirit and 'no excuses' attitude helps propel entrepreneurs to accelerate sales and reach new export markets. She has lead successful trade missions to the Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver, Washington, D.C., North Carolina, Chicago, Boston, San Francisco and the Dominican Republic. She thoroughly enjoys working with multifunctional teams to solve different challenges.
In her 28 year volunteer career in Canada and abroad, her most recent activities include: Start-Up Canada NB Steering Committee Member; Director of the Canadian Mentorship Challenge – StartUp Canada; Co-Founder of StartUp Fredericton; Career Mentor at St. Thomas University and Mentor with the Fredericton Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs.
Recent achievements include:
* Winning best use of inspiration package for a film in the 2012 48 hour film competition as part of the Femme Bots team. The film was featured at the 2012 Silver Wave Film Festival.
* 2010 recipient of the University of New Brunswick Activator Fellowship.
* 2009 won four out of five BREAKTHRU awards including CBC’s Choice Award for Dragon’s Den, Best Young Entrepreneur Award, Best Presentation Award and Best University Venture Award in the 2009BREAKTHRU competition - part of an MBA Project with a local Technology StartUp company.
She is a graduate of the University of New Brunswick with an MBA focused on international business and entrepreneurship, as well, holds a Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies from St. Thomas University.
In her spare time she enjoys cycling, ultimate frisbee, Zumba and yoga.
