Irene Hamburger

Board Member

Irene Hamburger is a Hospitality and Food Systems Consultant. Previously, Irene served as the Vice President of Blue Hill Farms, a position she came to with experience in the political, financial, and restaurant arenas. For 10 years, Irene served as Director of Operations for a United States Senator. This position allowed her the opportunity to manage the Senator's Capitol and home state offices as well as coordinate his Washington, D.C. fundraising efforts. Upon the Senator's retirement, Irene entered the private sector as an employee relations officer for an international bank.

In 1998, Irene graduated from the French Culinary Institute (now the International Culinary Center) and turned her life long fascination with food and cooking into her profession. After working at the Monkey Bar under Chef Kurt Gutenbrunner, Irene began cooking for Dan Barber Catering, Inc. As Dan Barber Catering, and later Blue Hill, evolved so did Irene’s role moving from the kitchen to special event planning, translating the restaurant's dedication to seasonal. locally grown food to corporate and special events.

As a member of Blue Hill at Stone Barns and Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture's opening team, Irene directed the introduction of the restaurant and farm to a local and national audience. Working with farmers, chefs and educators, she continues to promote farm-to-table issues that affect agriculture and consumers throughout the Hudson Valley.  Irene serves on the board of the Pleiades Network, an organization that inspires, recognizes and advances women’s leadership in creating a more sustainable world.