Therefore I Have Hope

The talks are open to the public and will take all place in the Assembly Hall and Rainy Hall, on The Mound in Edinburgh.

Admission is via ticket - please book on this page. We would ask people attending the dinner on the Friday evening to pay a minimum of £50 and those attending on Saturday only to pay a minimum of £10. Those attending both on Friday and Saturday should pay a minimum of £60.

Those attending the dinner on Friday should indicate any dietary requirements. Please also indicate if assistance is needed with access or any other special requirements.

Speakers:

Fr Nicholas Crowe OP

Fr Nicholas was born and raised in Stevenage. Upon the completion of his undergraduate studies in Geography at the University of Cambridge, he trained for the priesthood here at Blackfriars. After his ordination as priest, he was assigned first to the Dominican Priory in London, and later to the Priory in Leicester. During this time, he served as the Vocations Director for the Dominican friars in Great Britain, and Director of the Dominican Youth Movement. After a period of further studies in moral theology at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland, Fr Nicholas returned to the English Province and was assigned to the Dominican community in Cambridge where he served as Prior. He was elected Prior of Blackfriars Oxford in February 2023, and subsequently as Prior Provincial of the English Province in April 2024. He teaches pastoral theology.

Fr John Farrell OP

Father John Farrell is a Dominican Friar who has held many offices in the Province and was Prior Provincial from 2008-2016. Born in Halifax, West Yorkshire, he entered the Order in 1972 after a degree in history at the University of York. Assigned to Edinburgh in 1975 he completed graduate and postgraduate degrees in theology at New College, Edinburgh and was ordained deacon in George Square and priest at St Peter's Morningside. He was for a time assistant university chaplain in George Square. He has served as parish priest in London and Newcastle and has taught in four seminaries and on several training courses for lay ministry in Southwark, Westminster and Newcastle. His main work now is giving retreats. He is based at Holy Cross, Leicester.

Fr Dermot Morrin OP

Fr Dermot is a Dominican friar who is member of English Province, assigned to Scotland, but is from the south of Ireland. Having been educated by the Dominican friars at Newbridge College, he completed a degree in Electronic Engineering at University College Dublin. However, he felt called to be a priest and studied for the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin in Rome. He got to know the Dominican friars in Oxford and in 1991, he joined them and was clothed as a novice in Edinburgh. He completed a degree in Philosophy and Theology at Oxford, was ordained in 1997, spent 12 years in St Dominic’s Priory in London mostly as the Prior and/or Parish Priest. In 2009 he moved to Edinburgh where he has been Lead Chaplain and Superior for 11 out of 15 years. Since October 2023 he has combined this role with that of Chaplain at Polmont YOI & HMP.

Helene van der Ploeg

Helene was on the Board of the Grassmarket Community Project (GCP) for 5 years, before taking up the role of CEO in 2023.. She has been in catering and hospitality throughout her career, running her own ventures and specialising in start-ups, commercial and social enterprises including Edinburgh Castle and Edinburgh Zoo. In her role at Space @ Broomhouse Hub, she led on the construction of their £3m new community building and the subsequent development of social enterprises and community activities. Latterly, she was the Director of Food & Enterprise at The Larder, delivering the startup of their new Bakery Shop and developing their outside catering and opening of their Cafe and Community Shop in Broxburn. In 2016, Helene completed a Masters in Gastronomy with Distinction, focusing on sustainable food procurement in local authorities. Her focus is on food as that vital connector, to engage with the community, and work towards reducing poverty, social isolation, and mental health issues, challenges so prevalent with the members (beneficiaries) of GCP. Whilst Helene loves all things food, she is an advocate for the great outdoors too – from kayaking to hill walking; horse-riding to a good stomp; she is keen to share these passions as a balance to her work and a chance to connect with others.

Sepi Golzari-Munro

Sepi is an independent analyst, writer, and broadcaster specialising in climate and the clean energy transition. She works at the nexus between business, Government and the public - advising on political, communications and campaign strategies while providing regular commentary to major media networks. Her experience across NGO, private and public sectors - at international and national levels - has given her the range of experience required to make connections that would otherwise go unmade... bringing fresh strategic insights, solving tricky problems and communicating complex ideas with clarity. As a UK official, including at the Department of Energy and Climate Change, Sepi facilitated dialogue between business leaders and Government Ministers, led international trade missions, and advised on UN negotiations. She later served as Executive Director of the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, where she worked cross-party to shape and communicate interventions to secure a prosperous clean energy transition. She has co-presented on BBC Radio 4’s flagship environment programme, featured in documentaries and televised debates, and provides regular commentary for major media networks, publications and live events including Glastonbury Festival, UN climate conferences and party political conferences. She is the host of the newly launched Public Knowledge podcast and can be found on LinkedIn, or— more likely — exploring Scotland’s mountains and coastline.

Elizabeth Drummond Young

Dr Elizabeth Drummond Young is a teaching fellow in philosophy at the University of Edinburgh. She designs and teaches philosophy courses for both matriculated students and members of the public specialising in applied ethics, moral philosophy and critical thinking. She has a special interest in making the work of women philosophers better known. She has chaired the Albertus Institute and makes regular public philosophy presentations, as well as contributing to academic conferences and publications in her specialised areas.

Professor Alasdair MacLullich

Alasdair MacLullich is Professor of Geriatric Medicine in Edinburgh. Alasdair works clinically in acute geriatrics and orthogeriatrics at the Royal Infirmary. His research is focused on delirium including clinical assessment, communication, the patient experience, biomarkers, and outcomes, and more recently also on hip fracture care. He co-founded the European Delirium Association, and was chair of the SIGN guideline on delirium. He is currently the chair of the Scottish Hip Fracture Audit.

The Revd Oliver Brewer-Lennon

Musician, scholar, and priest, the Revd Oliver Brewer-Lennon has a distinguished background in both performance and academic research. Before ordination, he was a professional singer, performing with leading early music ensembles and chamber groups across the United States. Praised by The New York Times for his “attractive round tenor,” he appeared as both a soloist and ensemble singer in major concert venues and international festivals. His academic work focuses on Gregorian Chant, specialising in the interpretation of medieval notation and its implications for performance. Alongside his research, his theological training has shaped a particular interest in how music functions within worship and religious thought—not only as a historical practice but as something that continues to shape contemporary faith and culture. He has contributed to books on professional development for musicians and the practicalities of working in the classical music industry. Now Rector of St Michael and All Saints, Edinburgh, he continues to explore the intersection of music, theology, and human expression.

…but this I call to mind,
and therefore I have hope:
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is thy faithfulness.
"The Lord is my portion," says my soul,
"therefore I will hope in him."
The Lord is good to those who wait for him,
to the soul that seeks him.
It is good that one should wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.

Lamentations 3:21-26