Our People

Meet the IONS Team

Our team is dedicated to co-creating a culture where we can show up as our full, authentic selves. We value distributed leadership, lifelong learning, different ways of working and knowing, and lived experience. We are passionate about our work and the organizations we serve, and we aim to practice our values of abundance, courage and trust, and to hold radical generosity for ourselves and each other in our work. 

Lydia Phillip

Lydia Phillip

Communications Manager

Lydia’s pronouns are she/ her 

Jody Nelson

Jody Nelson

Learning & Engagement Director

Jody’s pronouns are she/ her

Alexandra Theroux

Alexandra Theroux

Operations Manager (and in-house artist!)

Alexandras pronouns are she/ her

Annika Voltan

Annika Voltan

Executive Director

Annika’s pronouns are she/ her 

Diane Connors

Diane Connors

Managing Director

Diane’s pronouns are she/ her

Reg Manzer

Reg Manzer

Research & Evaluations Manager

Reg’s pronouns are he/ him

Haley Moriarity

Haley Moriarity

Digital Marketing and Admin Coordinator

Haley’s pronouns are she/ they 

Find purpose-led career oportunities at IONS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Meet the Impact Organizations of Nova Scotia’s 2022-2023 board of directors. 

Chris Googoo (he/ him)

Chris Googoo (he/ him)

Chair

Chief Operating Officer
Ulnooweg, Truro

Tim Crooks (he/ him)

Tim Crooks (he/ him)

Vice Chair

Executive Director
Phoenix Youth, Halifax

Sally Ng (she/ her)

Sally Ng (she/ her)

Secretary

Chief Executive Officer 
Wallace McCain Institute 

Bryce Cross (he/ him)

Bryce Cross (he/ him)

Treasurer

Lecturer 
Dalhousie University & Saint Mary’s University 

Sylvia Parris-Drummond (she/ her)

Sylvia Parris-Drummond (she/ her)

Member-at-Large

Chief Executive Officer 
Delmore “Buddy” Daye Learning Institute, Halifax

Jayne Hunter (she/ her)

Jayne Hunter (she/ her)

Member-at-Large

Executive Director
Literacy Nova Scotia, Truro

Janet Barlow (she/ her)

Janet Barlow (she/ her)

Member-at-Large

Executive Director 
Hike Nova Scotia 

Rebeccah Slaunwhite (she/ her)

Rebeccah Slaunwhite (she/ her)

Member-at-Large

Partner 
Indigenous Treaty Partners 

Templeton Sawyer (he/ him)

Templeton Sawyer (he/ him)

Member-at-Large

Employment Support Practitioner 
TEAM Work Cooperative 

Kelly Bennett (she/ her)

Kelly Bennett (she/ her)

Member-at-Large

Research & Special Projects Lead
Government of Nova Scotia 

Gurmit Kaur (she/ her)

Gurmit Kaur (she/ her)

Member-at-Large

Career Counsellor
Nova Scotia Works – YMCA of Cape Breton