Taylor Coady
Chair
Taylor joined the ILNS board in February 2019 while completing his Master’s in Business Administration at Dalhousie University. Now graduated, Taylor works as a consultant, helping organizations to assess opportunities, manage risk, and develop programs and strategy. Taylor also has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of New Brunswick, Fredericton. While attending UNB, Taylor volunteered with the Canadian Cancer Society and helped organize the launch of the Relay for Life fundraiser on campus. Originally from PEI, Taylor moved to Halifax in the summer of 2015 and has loved being a Nova Scotian ever since. In his free time Taylor enjoys reading, painting, and playing soccer.
Susan McLearn
Treasurer
Susan joined the ILNS board in June 2020 and has a bachelor’s degree in Commerce from St. Mary’s University, Halifax, NS. She has held career positions ranging from accounting for a shrimp fishing vessel in Lunenburg to Retail Accountant, Financial Analyst, and supervisory positions in Accounting and Financial Operations.
Susan wants to add value to her community and ILNS brings forward that opportunity. She looks forward to learning more about ILNS and the programs that are offered to Nova Scotians. In her time away from work, she enjoys spending time with her family, friends, cooking, and online shopping.
Nancy Walker
Director
Nancy joined the ILNS Board in 2017. She is not new to the non-profit sector and the disability community. She has three children and her middle son, Ben, has Autism Spectrum Disorder. Nancy has been a keen advocate for her son in particular, and those in the autism community more broadly. She has sat on numerous boards, both in the community and professionally and understands the commitment of being a board member. Most notably, she started the Ben James Autism Summer Camp which is now run by Autism Nova Scotia, and currently runs the Adolescent/Young Adult Autism Summer Program which is run under the umbrella of ILNS. In her professional life, Nancy is a Physiotherapist who teaches as an Instructor at the School of Physiotherapy at Dalhousie University.
Andrew Taylor
Director
Andrew joined the ILNS board in June 2020. He is passionate about working with people who want to make Nova Scotia an inclusive and accessible place to live, work and play. He has several years experience helping businesses and nonprofits ensure their spaces are open and inviting to people of all abilities. He also offers workshops and training focused on the attitudinal barriers that can occasionally hinder communication between those who identify as people with disabilities and the wider community.
Jim Arnott
Director
Jim joined the ILNS board in June 2020. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Mary’s University as well as a Human Services Diploma from Nova Scotia Community College. Jim has extensive experience as a banker and as a caseworker at the Nova Scotia Department of Community Services. Finally, Jim volunteered for six years at the Community Justice Society and also with ILNS as a previous Board Co-Chair and the ILNS representative to Independent Living Canada, our national umbrella organization.
