Richard Armiger

Vice-Chair of the Board

Richard Armiger is the Director of Ministries and Learning. Richard has worked for the Methodist Church in learning and development for the last 14 years. Richard has a passion for enabling people to flourish and achieve their full potential as God intends for all his people. He has previously worked for the BBC and run his own media and training company Active Media Publishing. Richard is a trained trainer in conflict transformation and appreciative inquiry. He is an MBTI (Myers Briggs) accredited practitioner. Richard is a Local Preacher, MBA qualified and has an MA in Mission and the World of Work. He is married with two children, a daughter aged 15 and a son aged 18, and enjoys walking, photography and spending time with his family.

Mirella Yandoli

Mirella Yandoli currently works as an interfaith and equality diversity and inclusion officer. Her main professional interests lie in the intersection of faith, equality and gender justice. Her role is split between managing focused dialogues with faith groups, education on the prevention of violence against women and the strategic development of the Church of Scotland’s first equality diversity and inclusion group. Through this varied and challenging role, Mirella enjoys working with others to find creative solutions and ideas relating to justice and equality.

A quote I love....

To understand many things you must reach out of your own condition. ~ Mary Oliver (from the poem ‘leaves and blossoms along the way’ in the collection Felicity)

The Very Rev John Conway

Chair of the Board

John is the Provost of St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, having taken up that post in September 2017. Previously he was the Rector of St Martin of Tours Episcopal Church in Tynecastle, Edinburgh. During his 16 years there he helped establish the St Martin’s Community Resource Centre in a re-developed building. Alongside that he had two spells as the Co-ordinator of Initial Ministerial Education in the Diocese of Edinburgh, with responsibility for clergy training, was Co-Convenor of Edinburgh Interfaith Association, and Convenor of the Diocesan Mission & Ministry Committee. John is married with 3 daughters.

John Collard

John is a happily retired Church of Scotland Minister. After starting his working life as a brewer with Scottish and Newcastle, he served parishes in Edinburgh and East Kilbride, followed by a spell working for the Presbytery of Glasgow as Congregational Facilitator. He then joined the Interim Ministry team in the Church of Scotland, the post from which he retired.  John is a volunteer practitioner with Place for Hope, and occupies the place on the Board set aside for a practitioner.

A Quote I love...

Love bade me welcome . . George Herbert

Rev Susan Brown

Susan is a Parish Minister with the Church of Scotland and has held numerous posts including Moderator of the General Assembly and Convenor of the Faith Impact Forum for the Church of Scotland. Susan joined Place for Hope as a Trustee in December 2024.

Profile to follow.

Rev Fiona Bennett

Fiona Bennett is a Minister of Augustine United Church (URC) in Edinburgh and also a Place for Hope Practitioner. Fiona became a Trustee for Place for Hope in September 2024.

Profile to follow.

Elizabeth Mackin

Elizabeth joined Place for Hope as a Trustee in March 2024 and is also the Chair of the Finance and Funding Forum for the Charity.

Profile to follow.

Bevan Powell MBE

Bevan is the Director of Inclusion for the Methodist Connexion and joined Place for Hope as a Trustee in December 2023.

Profile to follow.