Meet the staff at Interval House Hamilton
Sue Taylor
Executive Director
Conact at 905-387-9959 ext 235
Liza Nystrom
Director of Programs and Services
Contact at 905-387-9959 ext 243
Jennifer Rowan
Director of Development and Communications
Contact at 905-387-9959 ext 231
David Hlady
Director of Finance
Contact at 905-387-9959 ext 233
Nylene O’Neill
Manager of Community Programs
Contact at 905-522-0127 ext 204
Grace Jansen
Manager of GBV Prevention Programs
Contact at 905-387-9959 ext 207
Daniella Doyon
Resource Development- Events
Contact at 905-387-9959 ext 247
Meet Our Board
Mark MacDiarmid
President
Mark is a business graduate from Brock University and spent his career in the private sector. Prior to his recent retirement, Mark was a partner in a chain of furniture retail franchise stores in the Hamilton, Burlington, and Toronto regions. Mark believes in giving back and has volunteered with Big Brothers/Big Sisters and with Grimsby Benevolent Fund. Mark brings business experience, financial acumen, leadership skills, and a positive attitude and has served on the IHOH board since 2018. Mark is the current President and provides leadership to the board of directors.
Dr. Mag Gardner
Vice President
Dr. Gardner has enjoyed a range of roles in Ontario including teacher, secondary principal, education officer and superintendent. More recently, she has served as a consultant, facilitator, coach, and speaker for more than ten countries around the globe. She has failed at retirement twice but has not lost hope. Dr. Gardner holds a doctorate in Leadership and Administration from OISE/UT. Additionally, Dr. Gardner is the Vice President of the Board of Directors, a member of the Governance Committee and a board ambassador.
Dr. Will Harper
Treasurer
Dr. Harper- is a medical doctor, researcher, clinical educator, and Associate Professor of Medicine working at McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences since 2002. He has been involved in medical care and education, clinical research trials, clinical guideline development, medical licensing adjudication, as well as university and hospital leadership. In addition to his role on the board of directors, Dr. Harper is the board’s treasurer and serves as the Chair of the Finance Committee.
Jennifer Swan
Secretary
Jennifer has been a family law lawyer for the past 13 years. She is currently a partner with Swan & Saenz LLP and has been practicing family law in Hamilton since 2014. Jennifer is very involved in the Hamilton legal community and sits on the Family Subcommittee (a committee within the Hamilton Law Association) and the Hamilton Community Liaison and Resource Committee as the Hamilton representative for the Office of the Children’s Lawyer. Jennifer obtained her Juris Doctor law degree from Bond University in Queensland, Australia and was called the New South Wales bar in Australia in 2009. Jennifer returned to Ontario and was called to the bar in Ontario in January 2011. Jennifer also obtained her Bachelor of Arts (Honours) majoring in Political Studies and Developmental Studies from Queen’s University in 2005.
Jeanine Risk
Officer
Jeanine graduated from the Child and Youth Worker program, launching her career in the social services field before transitioning into healthcare. For the past 22 years, Jeanine has been dedicated to Hamilton Health Sciences, where her journey evolved from frontline roles to leadership positions. Currently immersed in a leadership role, Jeanine leverages her experience and expertise in healthcare while pursuing an MBA to further enhance her skill set and contribute to the continuous improvement of healthcare practices. Jeanine’s diverse background reflects a commitment to supporting individuals’ well-being and advancing within the dynamic field of healthcare. Jeanine is currently the Chair of Governance Committee.
Scott Hayes
Officer
Scott has been in law enforcement for over 25 years and is currently a serving police officer with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police stationed in the GTA. He has a master’s degree in law from Osgoode Hall Law school, is a Certified Protection Professional (CPP) from ASIS International and has an Associated Business Continuity Professional (ABCP) designation from DRI International. He is grateful for the opportunity to give back to the community by sitting as a director with so many talented people on the Interval House of Hamilton board. He hopes he can assist with making the Executive Director’s vision of expanding the services of Interval House come true. Scott balances his role on the board with his active involvement on the Finance Committee.
Connie Smith
Officer
Connie is an award-winning journalist, documentary filmmaker, teacher, consultant and community volunteer. As a director at Interval House of Hamilton, she is also our community ambassador. Prior to joining us, she served on the St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton Board, the Elizabeth’s Concert of Hope for ALS committee, co-chaired the United Way of Hamilton-Halton 2011 Campaign and co-hosted the McMaster Children’s Hospital Celebration telethon for 17 years. Connie is the recipient of Rotary International’s Paul Harris Medal, the Queen’s Golden and Diamond Jubilee Medals, a member of the Hamilton Gallery of Distinction, Mohawk College’s Alumni of Distinction, and the Order of Ontario. Connie was the first woman to join the weekday anchor desk at CHCH-TV Hamilton where she became a household name and face for more three decades and hosted Canada’s first “Always Good News” show on CTS (Yes-TV).
Sarah Edwards
Officer
Sarah has over twenty years of experience as a family law lawyer in Hamilton. She is currently Senior Legal Counsel at the Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Hamilton and has been a lawyer representing this organization for twenty-one years. Sarah is very involved in the Hamilton legal community and sits on several committees including the Hamilton Law Association Family Subcommittee, Hamilton Joint Community Liaison and Resources Committee of the Family Court and the Bench and Bar Committee of the Family Court. In addition, she is Vice Chair of the Organization of Counsel for Children’s Aid Societies. Sarah obtained her Bachelor of Laws from Queen’s University in 2000 and was called to the Bar in 2002. She also obtained her Bachelor of Education from the University of Windsor in 1996 and obtained an Honours Bachelor of Arts (History) from the University of Western Ontario in 1995. Sarah brings her experience and expertise to both the board, as well as to the Governance Committee.
Karen Stone
Officer
Karen graduated from McMaster University in 1989 with a Bachelor of Commerce, qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1991 and a Chartered Business Valuator in 1996. She spent the first eleven years of her career at a major accounting firm in Hamilton, advising clients ranging from large manufacturing companies to smaller owner-managed businesses and not-for-profit organizations. She completed the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada’s In-Depth tax program and has spent the last twenty years working in the field of taxation. She is currently the VP Tax for a publicly traded media company.
News & Media
New Program Announcement: Coaching Boys Into Men
Interval House of Hamilton and MentorAction are thrilled to announce the official launch of Coaching Boys Into Men! An evidence-based program from the American-based organization, Futures Without...
Interval House of Hamilton remains overcapacity
The strain on the violence against women shelter has been an unfortunate reality for years, with growing numbers of women looking for safe shelter. At times, the shelter is so full women and...
Interval House of Hamilton Announces Naming of IHOH Emergency Shelter Victoria and Friends
March 8, 2022 - On behalf of Interval House of Hamilton Board of Directors, it is our privilege to announce the naming of our emergency shelter for women and their children – Victoria and Friends in...