About Irene


Irene Duah-Kessie- a multifaceted, first-generation Ghanaian Canadian woman, encapsulating all dimensions of a community builder, mentor, advocate, researcher, and entrepreneur.

Founder of the Toronto-based, grassroots organization, Rise In STEM, Irene and her team curate a variety of programs that build skills, foster mentorship, and provide leadership opportunities for Black and underserved youth. Passionate about supporting the Black community in particular, Irene is cognizant of how social detriments of poverty, education, health, and anti-Blackness shape the unfortunate realities of individuals pertaining to resource and support accessibility.

It was through the combination of her experience navigating her undergraduate degree in Life Sciences at McMaster University and the completion of her Masters Degree in Sustainability Management from the University of Toronto, that Irene found her voice to fuel change, acquire the knowledge to thoroughly understand systemic barriers, and to become an advocate for Black students in academia.  

Presently, Irene is a community-based researcher, the Executive Director at Rise in STEM, and manages e-commerce operations for J & I Beauty Supplies Inc.

“I want to bring information about Black experiences to light and address barriers on a systemic and community level - changing the way research is conducted within our communities.

Irene Duah-Kessie