Our People

Teri Brezner

Director of Learning Networks

Teri's pronouns are she/ her

Benny Welter-Nolan

Executive Director

they/them

Benny has been collaborating with communities across Mi’kma’ki since moving to Kjipuktuk in 2008. Benny is a curious, queer, settler artist who makes crafts, cakes and music with their loved ones for fun. As an experienced administrator, they’re dedicated to accessibility in organizational systems with a flair for colourful spreadsheets and calendars.

Most recently, they supported emerging leaders at Every One Every Day: a Reconciliation Initiative of the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre through their consultancy Shaping Change. During their time as the Executive Director of Visual Arts Nova Scotia, they successfully advocated for a doubling of provincial funding for the arts sector. They have also served as the Publisher of Visual Arts News magazine, President of the Cultural Federations of Nova Scotia, Co-Chair of the Youth Project, and Co-Director of Hermes artist co-operative.

Diane Connors

Managing Director

Diane’s pronouns are she/ her

Diane grew up in Edmonton, Alberta, near the valley of the North Saskatchewan River. She grounds her identity in her two grandmothers, one from Glasgow and one from the Hong Kong New Territories. Diane has worked with several non-profit and civil society organizations over the last ten years on work relating to environmental protection, international development, activism and advocacy, and knowledge sharing and capacity building. She has focused on youth leadership, climate change and sustainability, Indigenous rights and sovereignty, and community engagement from the grassroots to United Nations forums. Diane seeks to facilitate good team processes and collaboration, and help hold structure and shape for organizations in order to support people to carry out mandates that better society. She lives in Dartmouth with her husband and dog, enjoys swimming, practicing various creative arts, and hosting gatherings and parties with a beautiful community of friends and family in Nova Scotia.

Jeanine Kazungu

ASCEND Program Youth Engagement Manager

Jeanine's pronouns are she/her

Jeanine is originally from Rwanda, a country in East Africa, and has lived in a few countries before making Canada, specifically Nova Scotia, her home. She holds a diverse educational background, with a master's degree in Child and Youth Study from Mount Saint Vincent University and another in International Relations from Coventry University in England. Her academic journey began with a bachelor's degree in Finance from the University of Rwanda, showcasing her multidisciplinary approach to societal challenges.

Jeanine is a firm believer in human dignity and has a strong commitment to advocate for human rights and equitable access to services. Driven by her passion for equity and justice, Jeanine brings a scholar-activist approach to her work, particularly within organizations striving to empower underrepresented communities and diverse populations. Prior to joining IONS, Jeanine served as a Program Coordinator for a federally funded project focused on empowering youth with essential skills, training, and employment opportunities.

Jeanine has also been actively involved in research and advocacy work centered on the protection of human and child rights. Her academic interests include research and theses on diverse topics such as the voices of child marriage survivors and the significance of agency. She also volunteers for All Nations International Development Agency (ANIDA) based in Toronto as a local representative for their community-based projects.

Outside of her professional commitments, Jeanine is a culture and learning enthusiast. She finds balance in spending quality time with loved ones, attending church, exploring new travel destinations, indulging in brunch, and trying-out diverse cuisines. A delightful quirk about her is her love for a good TV show- particularly Korean dramas.

Kristen Faulkner

Director of Sector Transformation

Kristen’s pronouns are she/ her

Kristen has spent the last fifteen years working and volunteering in the community impact sector with a background in communications and nonprofit leadership. She has specialized in strategic planning, communications, partnership development and program delivery. Kristen is passionate about storytelling for impact and advocating for long-term systems change.

Recently she’s been drawn to sustainable design and systems thinking and energized by working in growing and emergent community organizations. Kristen is fascinated by organizational development and creating environments where teams flourish and honour the unique experiences that each person holds. Curiosity and humility are driving forces in her life and relationships.

Kristen is passionate about community-driven collective action and is on a journey to help build more sustainable and equitable systems. She’s really excited about IONS work in advocating for, and re-imagining new systems for the sector, while prototyping new ways of working that centre our values.

She loves exploring nature with her black lab, volunteering, learning from her toddler, and enthusiastically trying to make her own clothing. She grew up in Kjipuktuk and spent 6 years living in her family’s other home of Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Lisa Fiamelli

Operations Coordinator

Lisa’s pronouns are she/they

Lisa is the Executive Assistant at IONS. She supports the Executive Director and the Board of Directors.

She has worked in community organizations in Nova Scotia for over 10 years in diverse capacities; as a front-line staff, as a fundraiser, and in human resources & administration.

Lisa holds a Bachelor of Arts- Double Major in Sociology & Social Anthropology and French from Dalhousie University, and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Human Resource Management from Nova Scotia Community College. Lisa is also a certified Hatha Yoga instructor and aims to use a decolonized approach when she teaches.

Lisa is a board member & co-facilitator of support groups at an organization that supports women and non-binary folks experiencing and/or healing from gender-based violence & conjugal violence (Women AWARE- based in Montreal, QC.)

Lisa is an intersectional feminist and a proud cat mom. She enjoys travelling, psychological thrillers, stand-up comedy, and spending time in nature.

Things that are important to them: giving back to community, equity & justice, trans rights, anti-racism, anti-oppression, decolonization.

Lydia Phillip

Director of Communications

Lydia’s pronouns are she/ they

Lydia has been purposeful about building her communications career around the community sector where she believes storytelling, advocacy, and education meets social impact. With the majority of her experience spent working in impact organizations, Lydia is passionate about the sector as a catalyst to create social, environmental, and economic change while also empowering historically marginalized and underrepresented communities. Long story short, Lydia is intentional about being in spaces where her work will “Do Good!”

Lydia holds a Bachelor of Commerce Honours from Mount Allison University, is a published writer and researcher, and is currently serving on the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Maritime Board and the Zatzman Sportsplex Board. Lydia has been invited to conferences to present her brand research, communications practices, and leadership. She has been recognized nationally for her social advocacy, anti-racism initiatives, and work towards gender equality! Fun fact: Lydia is also a private pilot and senior flight instructor, mentoring and teaching youth how to fly gliders through the Air Cadet Flying program as a reserve member of the Canadian Armed Forces!

Lydia balances her work with finding new adventures, hitting the slopes on her snowboard or the lakes with her paddleboard, or relaxing with a good read.