January 15, 2026
Project Ploughshares is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Paul Heidebrecht as Director, effective January 1, 2026. Heidebrecht brings a wealth of relevant experience to this leadership role. He is Director of the Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement at Grebel, where he also teaches courses in Peace and Conflict Studies.
In this new arrangement, Heidebrecht will continue as Director of the Centre for Peace Advancement half-time, stepping back from some teaching and research activities in the areas of PeaceTech, systems thinking, and political advocacy so that he can devote time and energy to Project Ploughshares.
Heidebrecht is the fourth Director in Project Ploughshares’ 49-year history. He succeeds Cesar Jaramillo who was Executive Director from 2015 to 2025. John Siebert led the organization from 2005 to 2015 and Ernie Regehr, O.C., was Project Ploughshares’ co-founder and first Director, beginning in 1976.
This appointment is made possible by a new agreement between The Canadian Council of Churches and Conrad Grebel University College to work together to strengthen the organizational health and sustainability of Project Ploughshares.
The Management Committee of Project Ploughshares is excited to welcome Heidebrecht as its new Director and welcomes this opportunity to build stronger connections to the Centre for Peace Advancement and Conrad Grebel University College.
Colin Read
Chair
Project Ploughshares Management Committee
Pastor Peter Noteboom
General Secretary
The Canadian Council of Churches
