Fundraising Fox

Irene Ochem

Investor

Investor at Rising Tide Africa (RTA)

City of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

About

Irene Ochem is the Founder and CEO of the Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF), a pan-African organization focused on women's economic inclusion through entrepreneurship support. She holds qualifications from universities in Nigeria, Italy, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, including an MBA from Royal Holloway, University of London, and has over 30 years of experience in international development, enterprise development, and private sector growth across Africa and Europe. Ochem founded and convenes the annual AWIEF Conference, Africa's largest women entrepreneurship platform launched in 2015, and has directly supported over 5,000 female-owned startups through various capacity-building programs; AWIEF holds Special Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council.

Experience

  1. Africa Women Innovation & Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF)Convener Annual AWIEF Conferencecurrent2015 — present
  2. Africa Women Innovation & Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF)Founder & CEOcurrent2014 — presentSouth Africa & Nigeria
  3. Africa Women Innovation & Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF)Founder AWIEF Awards2017 — 2021
  4. Spintelligent/Clarion EventsProgramme Director2014Cape Town, South Africa
  5. United Nations Industrial Development OrganisationInternational Consultant2012Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
  6. United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)International Consultant2012Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
  7. University of Cape TownResearch Administration Manager2009 — 2011Cape Town, South Africa
  8. United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO)Administration1999 — 2008Trieste, Italy
  9. KEY CONGRESSI srlConference and Translation Coordinator1997 — 1999Trieste, Italy
  10. Ente Regionale per Sviluppo Agricoltura (ERSA)Executive Conference Officer1996Pozzuolo del Friuli (UD), Italy

Education

  1. University of LondonMaster of Business Administration (M.B.A.), International Management2005 — 2007
  2. University of Cape TownCertificate in Project Management, Project Management2010
  3. Università degli Studi di TriestePost-Graduate Diploma, Translation1994 — 1997
  4. University of Nigeria, NsukkaBachelor's Degree, Archaeology/History1982 — 1986

Skills & more

Conferences6Strategic Planning40Management30International Management14International Event Management6Administration3Conference Production4Event Planning8Event Management14Corporate Events4International Development9Project Management18
+12 moreProgram DevelopmentSenior Stakeholder ManagementManagement ConsultingProgram ManagementPolicy PlanningPolicy ImplementationStrategic LeadershipEnergyEntrepreneurshipReport WritingMarket ResearchBusiness Strategy

Languages English · French · Igbo · Italian

From Irene's professional profile.

Colleagues at Rising Tide Africa (RTA)

Abimbola Onakomaiya
Investor at Rising Tide Africa (RTA)
Abiola Sanni
Investor at Rising Tide Africa (RTA)
Adanma Onuegbu
Investor at Rising Tide Africa (RTA)
Adejoke Odocha
Investor at Rising Tide Africa (RTA)
Ademidun Edosomwan
Investor at Rising Tide Africa (RTA)
Adenike Ogunlesi
Investor at Rising Tide Africa (RTA)
Adesuwa Okunbo Rhodes
Investor at Rising Tide Africa (RTA)
Aisha Raji
Investor at Rising Tide Africa (RTA)

Frequently asked questions

Where does Irene Ochem work?
Irene Ochem is at Rising Tide Africa (RTA).

Same school

Also attended University of London91

Sandra SchwarzerInvestor at Index VenturesKarim GillaniGeneral Partner at Luge CapitalRoxanneCompliance Officer at Hummingbird VenturesRakesh MurriaCOO at Nauta CapitalJos WhiteGeneral Partner at Notion CapitalTeo Qi ShanInvestor Relations Associate at Jungle Ventures

+ 85 more

Also attended University of Cape Town154

Roelof BothaAdvisor & former Steward at Sequoia Capital; SpaceX board memberJames DetweilerVP of Investments at Felicis VenturesAvron MarcusInvestor at Index VenturesLaurel BowdenPartner at 83NorthAlan EzekowitzInvestor at Third Rock VenturesAndy VitusPartner at Scale Venture Partners

+ 148 more

Also attended Università degli Studi di Trieste12

Malgorzata RogalskaAssociate at Ysios CapitalIrena SpazzapanManaging General Partner at Systemiq CapitalRiccardo SabatiniInvestor at Eni NextAkcan IstifHead of Innovation & Labs at Scientifica Venture CapitalTeresa De NadaiProject Manager at LIFTTFrancesca RadinPortfolio Specialist at PFC Family Office

+ 6 more

Also attended University of Nigeria, Nsukka5

Eghosa OmoiguiFounder and Managing General Partner at EchoVC PartnersJudith IgberaseAdmin & People Manager at Oui CapitalModestus ObochiEIR at SFU VentureLabsAudrey Joe-EzigboInvestor at Rising Tide Africa (RTA)Emmanuel Kelechukwu AjahSenior Growth Lead at Founders Factory Africa

Shared employers

Also worked at Africa Women Innovation & Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF)1

Beryl VisserProgram Lead - Accelerator & Angel Network at EnergyLab

Also worked at Spintelligent/Clarion Events1

Alexis BrebelInvestor at Satgana

Also worked at University of Cape Town14

Francesco PomponiInvestor at Extantia CapitalJarryd KennedyHead of Investments Africa at CV LabsReon CloeteHead of Legal at Flourish VenturesDominic LeongVice President, PE Team at Helios Digital VenturesRob HeathPartner at HAVAICKatherine TredinnickResearch Lead at Injini

+ 8 more