Executive Director
(he/him)
Mitchell is an experienced non-profit leader with a diverse professional background, specializing in governance, policy, and strategy. He has a long history of supporting and leading student and youth-serving organizations, and is passionate about addressing housing barriers and enhancing opportunities for students and young people. Mitchell is committed to increasing the capacity of the non-profit housing sector in Nova Scotia by fostering growth and resilience.
He is dedicated to contributing to the community as a board member of the Nova Scotia Non-Profit Housing Association (NSNPHA) and the Peter Green Hall Children’s Centre (PGHCC), along with various other advisory committees and working groups. Mitchell holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Saint Mary’s University and a Master of Public Administration from Dalhousie University.
Director of Finance & Operations
(he/him)
Justin Greek is an accomplished management professional with extensive experience in strategic planning, team leadership, and operations management. He has held key senior roles at CANImmunize and TELUS Health, supporting diverse portfolios including human resources, operations and program management, and strategic financial planning.
Justin is known for his resourcefulness, problem-solving skills, and ability to drive organizational success. He currently serves as Treasurer on the board of Halifax Pride, and holds a Bachelor of Arts from Dalhousie University.
Board Chair
(she/her)
Silvia Marin-Dragu is a clinician and researcher with over 13 years of professional and academic experience in the fields of mental health and technology. She is currently completing a PhD in Clinical Psychology at Dalhousie University. Silvia is passionate about ensuring that students have access to safe, affordable, and stable housing, especially those who are underrepresented, raising families, or facing other obstacles. Silvia grew up in Romania, has a strong interest in cross-cultural learning and in her free time, she enjoys traveling to broaden her worldview.
Vice Chair
(she/her)
Erin Brownlow is a Professional Quantity Surveyor (Fellow) and a Gold Seal Certified Estimator with over 20 years of experience in construction. She has worked in the supply, sub-contracting, general contracting, consulting, development and public sectors, offering a wide range of expertise. She has worked as a sales associate, project coordinator, contract manager, cost consultant, estimator, senior estimator, managing estimator and cost planner/controller on a wide range of construction management projects and programs of values ranging from a few thousand dollars to $1 billion in various locations across Canada. She is also a strong promoter of diversity, inclusion and fairness in the industry.
Board Member
(she/her)
Angela is an experienced change management leader and business transformation consultant with over 25 years of success across the healthcare, education, finance, information technology, and public sectors. She brings a strategic, people-centered approach to leading digital transformation, redesigning service delivery models, and driving operational improvements. She currently serves as a Principal Change Advisor and Executive Instructor with Prosci Canada, where she helps organizations build agile, change-ready cultures. Angela is a skilled facilitator and coach, known for enabling teams to align people, processes, and technology in support of organizational goals. Her expertise spans strategic planning, project management, business analysis, and leadership development.
Angela holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from St. Francis Xavier University.
Finance, Audit, & Risk Committee Chair
(he/him)
Mark Hammond is a finance leader and Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) with deep expertise in financial reporting, strategic planning, and operational leadership. With a career spanning roles in real estate, residential construction, infrastructure, and energy services, Mark brings practical experience in budgeting, forecasting, financial modeling, and cross-functional collaboration. He currently serves as Group Controller at VIDA, a national property and asset management group focused on affordable housing solutions. In this role, Mark leads a high-performing finance team and is responsible for financial reporting, process design, and innovation across a diverse real estate portfolio. He is passionate about building systems that scale, empowering teams, and supporting data-driven decision-making.
Mark is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA), and holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Saint Mary’s University.
HR & Governance Committee Chair
(she/her)
Lydia is a policy professional and advocate with a strong track record of stakeholder engagement and centring student voices in decision-making. Across various roles, she advanced key student priorities, securing investments in student financial aid programs and expanded health insurance eligibility for international students, and authoring a set of comprehensive recommendations to build a more sustainable student housing system in Nova Scotia. Lydia currently serves as a Senior Advisor at First Lake Solutions, supporting public affairs initiatives at the federal, provincial, and municipal levels. She previously held roles as Executive Director of Students Nova Scotia, Policy Advisor to Canada’s Minister of Housing, and Vice President Academic and External of the Acadia Students’ Union.
Lydia holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Acadia University, and a Master’s degree in Political Management from Carleton University.
Board Member
(he/him)
Andrew is an engineer and planner with over 15 years experience developing residential projects throughout Canada and the Middle East with expertise in project planning, design and construction. He is Senior Director of Development at Killam REIT, where he is responsible for a Canadian-wide development portfolio. Andrew also chairs the building committee at Shelter Nova Scotia and is assisting the YWCA Halifax plan new housing for women-led households in need. Raised in Annapolis County, Andrew is a proud Nova Scotia with roots throughout the Province.
Andrew is a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) and holds a Master’s in Civil Engineering and a Masters in Urban Planning from Dalhousie University.
Board Member
(he/him)
Kyle is a real estate and property lawyer at McInnis Cooper. The majority of his practice is focused on commercial financing, property acquisitions, conveyancing matters, subdivision development and land use planning matters. He represents property developers, lenders, borrowers, landlords, tenants, companies, governments, and individuals in a variety of real estate matters. Kyle also advises renewable energy firms in respect of real estate matters pertaining to the acquisition, operation and financing of wind and solar power projects. This experience includes land acquisitions, transmission easements and leasing matters. Outside of his real estate practice, Kyle takes an active interest in real estate investing. His experience in this area has expanded his industry network and enabled him to better understand client needs in transactions.
Kyle holds a Juris Doctor from Dalhousie University and a Bachelor of Arts from Cape Breton University.
Board Member
(he/him)
Connor is an urban planner with over a decade of experience and deep knowledge of planning policy, development approvals, and collaborative design. Connor is a Principal at Zzap, a Dartmouth-based architecture and planning firm, where he leads projects focused on sustainable land development, housing, and community design. He is also a part-time instructor at Dalhousie University’s School of Planning, and is passionate about shaping inclusive communities and improving housing outcomes for students and beyond.
Connor is a Member of the Canadian Institute of Planners (MCIP) and a Licensed Professional Planner (LPP). He holds a Bachelor of Community Design with an Honours in Urban Design and Sustainability from Dalhousie University.
We work and live in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People. This territory is covered by the “Treaties of Peace and Friendship” which Mi’kmaq Wəlastəkwiyik (Maliseet), and Passamaquoddy Peoples first signed with the British Crown in 1726.
The treaties did not deal with the surrender of lands and resources but in fact, recognized Mi’kmaq and Wəlastəkwiyik (Maliseet) title and established the rules for what was to be an ongoing relationship between nations.
Student Housing Nova Scotia acknowledges the Peace & Friendship Treaties signed in this Territory and recognizes that we are all Treaty People.
We also acknowledge that people of African descent have been in Nova Scotia for over 400 years, and we honour and offer gratitude to those ancestors of African descent who came before us to this land.