Sports plays a major part in Irena's life having grown up competing in a variety of disciplines including tennis, soccer, cricket and basketball.

Irena was the Acting Manager at Deaf Sports Australia before taking on the role as Sports Development Officer. She also worked as the National Sports Coordinator during 1997-2001 and again as Project Officer in 2003 for DSA. She also worked as a Sport Liaison Officer for the 2002 World Masters Games in Melbourne. Irena has also been involved with Deaf Basketball Australia, Deaf Sport Recreation Victoria and Deaf Basketball Victoria in many capacities.

As an athlete, Irena has represented Australia in basketball three times - at the 1997 and 2005 Deaflympic Games and at the 2007 World Deaf Basketball Championships. 

As the Sports Development Officer, Irena is keen to see an increase in participation from grassroot levels, an effective pathways program and a high level national and international sports and youth talent co-ordination program.