A woman with curly black hair wearing a white suit sitting at a marble table, smiling, with a laptop and a mug that says 'STEM' in front of her, in a bright white room.

Irene Duah-Kessie is a community builder, researcher, and evaluator with experience in public health and community development.

Through her work with youth and equity-seeking communities, she has led initiatives focused on strengthening educational, employment, technical skills, and health outcomes.

She combines strategic planning, program evaluation, data analytics, and community-based research to help organizations better understand challenges, strengthen initiatives, and create meaningful results.

Researcher. Strategist. Community Builder.

Focus Areas

Research & Evaluation
Evidence-based approaches that help organizations understand impact, strengthen outcomes, and make informed decisions.

Community-Based Research
Research approaches that centre lived experiences, collaboration, and community perspectives.

Public Health & Social Impact
Exploring the factors that influence wellbeing, equity, and access to opportunities.

Strategy & Innovation
Transforming research findings into strategies that strengthen programs, services, and initiatives.

Featured Awards

A woman in a strapless blue and white patterned gown holding a white handbag, standing in front of a backdrop with various sponsor logos.

May 2024

BlackNorth Initiative:
Youth Leadership

Recipient of the ‘Youth Leadership’ award, sponsored by Hydro One at BlackNorth’s Initiative Excellence Gala.

Poster celebrating the Black Pearls Gala event with photos of diverse women, details about the event on October 26, 2024, at Pearson Convention Centre, and information on purchasing tickets via QR code and website, all on an orange and purple background.

October 2024

CIBWE: Top 100 Black Women to Watch

Selected as one of Canada’s “Top 100 Black Women to Watch” by the Canada International Black Women Excellence.

June 2022

Toronto Youth Cabinet:
Black Youth Gala

Recipient of the ‘Building Community Through Research, Science & Technology’ award at the TYC’s Black Youth Gala.

Award badge for Charity Village Conference & Awards, recognizing Irene Kessie for Best Individual Contribution To Advancing Youth In The Workplace, 2023 Winner.

November 2023

Charity Village Awards

Recipient of the ‘Best Individual Contribution to Advancing Youth in the Workplace’ award. She was also interviewed for the Charity Connects podcast.

Interviews

March 2025

Toronto Maple Leafs x LG Canada | Community Heroes Rise in STEM

The Toronto Maple Leafs and LG Canada are proud to support Rise in STEM as LG Community Heroes!

Black at University of Toronto Mississauga logo with black text and emblem on white background.

August 2024

Interview | University of Toronto

Irene shared her journey at the University of Toronto, starting her grassroots initiative, Rise In STEM, and the importance of STEM education in her communities.

Strong Charities Imagine Canada accreditation logo with a geometric triangle in black, gray, and red, and the words 'ACCEPTED' in red.

April 2022

Interview | Imagine Canada

Irene shared her insights around policy supporting youth-led grassroots organizations, and specifically how Bill S-216 impacts Rise In STEM.

Logo with the words "Black Voice" and the phrase "Stronger When Together" underneath, featuring abstract book or pages icon in black, orange, and green colors.

August 2021

Interview | Black Voice

Black Voice is an initiative that highlights stories, programs, and businesses among Black communities in Canada. Irene shared her journey navigating academia and how she hopes Rise In STEM will help future generations.