Irene currently serves as Hennepin County Commissioner for District 2, which includes much of Minneapolis. Irene was elected to the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners in November of 2018. Together, she and Commissioner Angela Conley (District 4) were the first people of color elected to the County Board in Hennepin’s 169 year history. She is the youngest woman to serve in this position, and she is the first Filipino-American elected in the state of Minnesota. Before joining the County Board, Irene worked in not-for-profit and corporate settings, and she instructed college courses. Her expertise is in youth development, social entrepreneurship, shared leadership models, talent development, and systems change. Irene is also currently pursuing a doctorate degree in Human Resource Development.