Meet Irene

Commissioner Irene Fernando speaks into a handheld microphone, gesturing with her other hand, in front of a red stage curtain.

Dr. Irene Fernando

Hennepin County Commissioner, District 2 · Chair of the Board

Firsts

Together, she and Commissioner Angela Conley (District 4) were the first people of color elected to the County Board since Hennepin's founding in 1852.

She is the youngest woman to serve in this position, and she is the first Filipino-American elected in Minnesota.

In 2023, she became the first Board Chair of color in Hennepin County history.

On the Board

Irene was elected to the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners in November of 2018. Since 2023, Irene has been elected annually by her Commissioner colleagues to serve as Chair of the Board. In her time on the Board, Irene has fought hard to increase access to housing, transit, health services, and jobs.

Commissioner Irene Fernando sits at the front of a large group gathered around long tables in a county meeting room, everyone turned toward the camera.
With a Hennepin County employee resource group.

The district she serves

Dr. Irene Fernando currently serves as Hennepin County Commissioner for District 2, which includes:

  • Plymouth
  • Medicine Lake
  • Golden Valley
  • North Minneapolis
  • North Loop
  • Northeast Minneapolis
  • St. Anthony Village
Commissioner Irene Fernando shakes hands with a seated man using a wheelchair at the 2025 State of the County address, with other attendees talking nearby.
Greeting attendents at the 2025 State of the County address.

Before the Board

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 studied at the University of Minnesota where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Business and a Master of Education in Youth Development Leadership, and a doctorate in Human Resource Development.

At age 17, she moved to Minneapolis to attend the University of Minnesota. Just ten days into her freshmen year, she co-founded Students Today Leaders Forever (STLF) with a mission of revealing leadership through service, relationships, and action. What started as an optimistic idea quickly transformed into a thriving nonprofit.

800tours over 15 years
30,000participants
420,000service hours

Her career spans not-for-profit, corporate, and academic spaces. In 2015, Irene was selected as a Bush Foundation Fellow and began teaching social entrepreneurship at St. Mary's University. She also worked at Thrivent Financial leading around organizational design, culture, and talent. Her community involvement includes serving on the Carlson School of Management Alumni Board, being a member of the Global Shapers Minneapolis Hub, and leading as an Alpha Gamma Delta Alumnae Chapter President.

At home

Irene lives in the Harrison neighborhood of Minneapolis with her partner Kent, and their dog Mimi. She loves this community and can often be found out on her front porch chatting with her neighbors or cheering on the Minnesota Lynx!

Commissioner Irene Fernando stands with a group of colleagues in front of a Hennepin County backdrop, flanked by blue, purple, and white balloons.
Chair Fernando with County Board Aides at the 2025 State of the County address.