Where does Irene Ochem work?

Irene Ochem is at Rising Tide Africa (RTA).

Where did Irene Ochem go to school?

Irene Ochem studied at University of London (Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), International Management); University of Cape Town (Certificate in Project Management, Project Management); Università degli Studi di Trieste (Post-Graduate Diploma, Translation).

Irene Ochem

Investor

Investor at Rising Tide Africa (RTA)

City of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

Find your path to Irene

294 people in our graph share verified history with Irene — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.

Eghosa OmoiguiunlockedIrene: together at University of Nigeria, Nsukka (1985–1986)

×11Irene: together at University of London

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

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

Skills & more

Strategic Planning40Management30International Management14International Event Management6Administration3Conference Production4Event Planning8Conferences6Event Management14Corporate Events4International Development9Project Management18

+8 more

Program DevelopmentSenior Stakeholder ManagementManagement ConsultingProgram ManagementPolicy PlanningPolicy ImplementationStrategic LeadershipEnergy

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

Who is Irene Ochem?: 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.
Where does Irene Ochem work?: Irene Ochem is at Rising Tide Africa (RTA).
Where did Irene Ochem go to school?: Irene Ochem studied at University of London (Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), International Management); University of Cape Town (Certificate in Project Management, Project Management); Università degli Studi di Trieste (Post-Graduate Diploma, Translation).

Same school

Also attended University of London148

Sandra SchwarzerInvestor at Index Ventures Anneleen PeetersNon-executive Director at Capricorn Venture Partners Karim GillaniGeneral Partner at Luge Capital RoxanneCompliance Officer at Hummingbird Ventures Rakesh MurriaCOO at Nauta Capital Jos WhiteGeneral Partner at Notion Capital

+ 142 more

Also attended University of Cape Town268

Roelof BothaAdvisor & former Steward at Sequoia Capital; SpaceX board member James DetweilerVP of Investments at Felicis Ventures Avron MarcusInvestor at Index Ventures Laurel BowdenPartner at 83North Alan EzekowitzInvestor at Third Rock Ventures Andy VitusPartner at Scale Venture Partners

+ 262 more

Also attended Università degli Studi di Trieste25

Malgorzata RogalskaAssociate at Ysios Capital Irena SpazzapanManaging General Partner at Systemiq Capital Fabio FurlaniAnalyst at Ion Pacific Marco SignoriGeneral Manager at Friulia SpA Sarah BarbarossaInvestment Manager at Friulia SpA Riccardo DentesanoInvestment Manager at Friulia SpA

+ 19 more

Also attended University of Nigeria, Nsukka6

Eghosa OmoiguiFounder and Managing General Partner at EchoVC Partners Judith IgberaseAdmin & People Manager at Oui Capital Modestus ObochiEIR at SFU VentureLabs Audrey Joe-EzigboInvestor at Rising Tide Africa (RTA)Emmanuel Kelechukwu AjahSenior Growth Lead at Founders Factory Africa Benjamin OkokohFounder at Xend

Shared employers

+ 22 more

Find your path to Irene

About

Experience

Skills & more

Colleagues at Rising Tide Africa (RTA)

Frequently asked questions

Same school

Also attended University of London148

Also attended University of Cape Town268

Also attended Università degli Studi di Trieste25

Also attended University of Nigeria, Nsukka6

Shared employers

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

Also worked at Spintelligent/Clarion Events2

Also worked at University of Cape Town28