Our Contributors to the CCD Conference 2025
Johannes Reimer
Dr. Johannes Reimer is Professor of Missions Studies and Intercultural Theology
at the University of South Africa, Pretoria. For the past seven years he was the
Director of the Peace and Reconciliation Network of the World Evangelical Alliance and now heads their Public Engagement department. He is personally involved in a number of conflict resolution programmes and has written several books on Mission and Peace. Reimer is married to Cornelia, together they enjoy three children and two grandchildren.
David Couzens
David leads Tearfund’s peacebuilding team, established in 2016 to address the impact of violent conflict on community development. Before joining Tearfund, he served 29 years in the British Army, including tours in Afghanistan and Libya, earning an OBE for his work. David has been a key advocate for collaboration between NGOs and the military and helped improve crisis response strategies. At Tearfund, he has supported disaster responses like the Nepal earthquake and Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines. Now, he focuses on peacebuilding worldwide, challenging views that perpetuate violence. He is married with three children and two grandchildren. He is also a keen open water swimmer having swum the length of England’s longest lake.
Sonja Brink
Matthieu Dobler Paganoni
Matthieu is the father of two daughters (5 and 2 years old), likes groovy music, exciting philosophical-theological discussions and the culture of Latin America. He lives with his family near Basel (Switzerland) and works as the Executive Director of Interaction, the Swiss umbrella organisation of 34 Christian development organisations. He studied Sociology & Theology (BA) and International Development Studies (MA) and spent 5.5 years in Honduras after his studies. In his free time, he enjoys talking to interesting people for his Justpeace podcast, should do more sports and is happy when his children allow him to sleep in a little longer on weekends.
Naomi Enns
Expert with many years of experience in humanitarian aid and peacebuilding, having successfully implemented numerous projects in Chad, Lebanon/Syria, Western Europe (including Northern Ireland, Spain) and the Baltic States. Over 16 years of active work experience, she has led programs to build community resilience, trauma awareness, and promote peaceful communication. She has successfully applied conflict transformation approaches and trauma resilience strategies to build more socially cohesive societies. Presently involved in bringing peace to practice program involving University student volunteers to prison in Lithuania amidst other programs. Naomi is currently Director of the Centre for Dialogue and Conflict Transformation and lecturer at LCC International University. She is a trainer in Dialogue for Peaceful Change | Global and Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resiliency (STAR) and teaches restorative practices, justice, trauma, civil engagement, and conflict transformation.
Mark Galpin
Dr Mark Galpin is a Postgraduate Programme Leader, Tutor & lecturer in Poverty & Justice studies and Leadership at All Nations Christian College in Ware, UK. BSc (Hons) Environmental Science, MSc (Tropical Agricultural Development), PhD (Agricultural Development). Mark has been involved in cross-cultural mission and community development for the last 30 years. He lived and worked in East Africa (1991 – 94), where he grew up. In the year 2000, Mark completed his PhD in Agricultural Development at the University of Reading. He and his family served in Nepal, initially with the International Nepal Fellowship (INF) in a number of different programme focused roles and then in senior management. In 2007-8 Mark briefly taught Development Studies at All Nations as a missionary in residence before returning to Nepal to serve as Executive Director of the United Mission to Nepal (UMN) from 2009 to 2016. In September 2016 Mark returned to All Nations as a lecturer and tutor, heading up two of the major streams of the college; Poverty & Justice studies and Leadership. In March 2018 Mark became the All Nations Postgraduate Programme Leader. Mark is the chair of the Global Connections Integral Mission Forum and a board member of charity 28 Too Many. He recently co-edited a book titled Undivided Witness and has a keen interest in linking theology and community development and seeing the local church act as an agent of change in society.
Manuel Heinemann
Manuel Heinemann is a consulting business economist, passionate networker, and dedicated humanitarian logistics professional with over a decade of experience in international disaster response and humanitarian supply chain management. Operating at the global level, he serves as the Deputy Head of Logistics and Coordinator for Humanitarian Logistics & Supply Chain at humedica International Aid, a Germany-based INGO specializing in medical programmes, disaster response, and relief supplies. Since 2018, humedica has been recognized as a WHO-classified Emergency Medical Team (EMT).
In this role, Manuel acts as the focal point for the United Nations’ OCHA Global Logistics Cluster and the European Commission’s DG ECHO, building global partnerships and advancing operational readiness. His expertise spans sustainable supply chain management, customs processes, and fostering localization in humanitarian operations.
While Manuel’s passion for humanitarian logistics and global supply chains has shaped his career, his humanitarian work extends beyond logistics. He is deeply committed to enhancing multidimensional networks, lean processes, and the last mile, guided by the principle: “Do good and talk about it!” Equally important to him is the goal of bridging the gap between missionary organizations and humanitarian organizations. He believes in the transformative power of faith-based approaches, integrating physical, emotional, and spiritual care, and is dedicated to strengthening the role of the Christian community in disaster response. Drawing inspiration from his involvement in faith-based networks, Manuel works to connect global expertise with local action, empowering communities to rebuild with resilience and hope.
As a facilitator for the sub-theme Disaster Response in Humanitarian Crises, Manuel will guide discussions on how faith-based approaches and collaborative networks can play a transformative role in peacebuilding and recovery efforts.
Johanna Landes
Johanna Landes grew up in the picturesque, sun-kissed south of Germany, surrounded by lush vineyards. She currently serves as a peace worker with the German Mennonite Peace Committee, an organization dedicated to conflict resolution through non-violent means. Her passion lies in reconciliation processes, where she feels privileged to witness people embark on journeys of forgiveness and healing.
Johanna has also developed a deep love for the natural world, finding meaningful connections between ecology, mental health, and resilience. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and tending to their charming little garden.
Maaike Machiels
Maaike has a double master’s degree in law, majoring in International Humanitarian Law (Belgium) and Diplomacy (Israel). Living in Jerusalem, she works as Organizational Development Manager and Project Manager with Musalaha, a faith-based NGO teaching, training, and facilitating reconciliation for Israelis and Palestinians, and international groups. As part of senior management, Maaike is well-versed in Musalaha’s Curriculum for Reconciliation, interethnic and interfaith peacebuilding across borders, and decolonial, indigenous reconciliation models within the fast-changing context of the Israeli Palestinian conflict.
Jamie Munday
Jamie is a graduate of Regent College (MA Theology) and the University of Wales where he completed his Masters in Social Development Policy and Management. His passion is to see the poor move from passive beneficiaries to active agents of change in their own lives and communities.
He has lived and worked around the World serving in various development capacities. With the help of many friends along the journey, he launched the Five & Two Network in 2017 – a movement of community builders and activists who are transforming communities from the inside-out. He and his wife Leah have 3 children and live in Kelowna, Canada.
Ulrich Nitschke
Ulrich Nitschke is a governance expert and a real change maker. He is Deputy Managing Director of the faith-based Consultancy PIRON Global Development in Bonn. PIRON is hosting a network of excellent consultants in Africa and Europe and facilitates change processes, leadership and human resource development. In 2015, Ulrich established the international network PaRD (International Partnership on Religion and Sustainable Development) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and many faith based partners. He was simultaneously head of the sector program „Values, Religion and Development“ of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). Previously, he led and implemented governance and civil society development programs for several years in Palestine/ Israel as well as in Benin and Southern Africa. He is known as an excellent listener, trainer and facilitator and supported several NGOs and FBOs in developing their advocacy strategies. He is serving as leadership coach for senior management of NGOs and FBOs. Ulrich is married, has three grown up children and holds a degree in Theology and Philosophy from Fribourg/ Switzerland. Currently he lives and works from the UN City of Bonn and serves as a government consultant in various countries.
Betty Pries
With over 31 years of experience coaching, mediating, training, facilitating and consulting, Betty is highly regarded as a Conflict, Change, and Leadership Specialist. Betty specializes in working with complex challenges, supporting leaders and their organizations to be at their best. Betty’s capacity to care deeply, listen well, and provide wise and thoughtful support allows her to help her clients engage in tough, meaningful, and important conversations, set directions, and achieve positive organizational change.
Betty is a specialist in equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI), leading anti-racism / anti-prejudice workshops, supporting EDI committees, reviewing and writing EDI-related policies, coaching leaders and offering support to organizations wrestling with EDI challenges.
Betty brings a wealth of experience to her work, having worked with a wide range of organizations, both nationally and internationally. Betty has extensive education, training, and experience in coaching, mediation, negotiation, consensus building, consultation, facilitation, and organizational health. As Co-Founder and CEO at Credence, Betty’s great joy has been the opportunity to mentor and support the growth of the Credence team. Betty has a PhD from the Free University Amsterdam on the topic of conflict transformation. She is a Chartered Mediator with the ADR Institute of Canada and a member of the ADR Institute of Ontario. Betty is a regular instructor at the University of Waterloo.
Dr Betty Pries, and others at Credence, have experience supporting numerous organizations with both recent and historical allegations and/or findings of abuse by leaders and/or congregants/employees.
Julia Prigge-Musial
As a peace expert and trained mediator, Julia works in development cooperation in crisis contexts, particularly in the Middle East, and mediates in neighbourhood conflicts. She is passionate about bringing faith and social transformation together – which is why she writes about this in magazines, gives conflict management seminars and chairs the general assembly of Tearfund Germany. Julia lives in Frankfurt with her husband and two daughters, loves good coffee, inspiring encounters and beautiful places.
Cornelia Reimer
Cornelia Reimer (MA), born and raised in Germany, is involved both in Christian peacebuilding education and in coaching & mediation with the international Peace & Reconciliation Network of the World Evangelical Alliance. She is married to Prof. Johannes Reimer, a missiologist from Estonia, with whom she loves to talk theology, do church planting ministry locally, and discuss global issues after having raised their three children.
After her studies at three German and one US university, Cornelia worked as a freelance editor & translator before she taught English, Spanish and Political Science at a Christian high school in Germany. In her freetime she enjoys her family, a good read, Nordic walking, traveling, photography, music and the arts. She loves to see people flourish, develop to be their best and regain their strength when crises have hit. Workshops and seminars on peacebuilding or successful communication to inspire those interested in a flourishing environment are much on her heart.
Matthias Scheitacker
Matthias is married and has five wonderful children. With his family, he lived 10 years in Uganda, teaching theology and training ordinands at Bishop Barham University College. Since 2016 he has been coordinating Network East Africa, a branch of Marburger Mission Foundation. As Network, we strengthen churches in the East of DRC and South Sudan to unite society in areas of crisis and to support education that youth gain hope to leave armed groups.
Matthias loves Jesus. He enjoys activities with his family and relaxes by doing crafts and having deep conversations with his African friends.
Bethany Serengheu
Bethany Serengheu is founder of ONE Coaching and Conflict Management and Team Coordinator for the Peace and Reconciliation Network in Europe, a commission of the World Evangelical Alliance. She was born in Canada but grew up in Asia. After marrying a Romanian, she began to minister in Romania. She ministered as a leader of worship, in Women’s ministries, and with NGOs in operational, administrative, humanitarian and church development. After completing her Masters in Peace and Conflict Studies, Bethany worked with a peace institute as a Project Manager establishing Protection Support Hubs for Ukrainian Refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine. She has also completed her Coaching training and offers both conflict coaching and consulting. Bethany continues working to see the church embrace their commission as ambassadors of Christ, fulfilling and engaging others in the ministry of reconciliation. What she enjoys most is time with her boys, friends who enjoy deep conversation, and discovering new foods.
Joel Zantingh
Joel Zantingh started out as a church planter 30 years ago. He and Christie are parents to adult children, as well as grandparents. Joel has a heart for the nations, both locally and globally. He is a graduate of Fuller Seminary (M.A. in Global Leadership), and is currently enrolled in Portland Seminary, completing a Doctor of Leadership in Global Perspectives. He has served in national and global mission leadership within the Evangelical Missionary Church of Canada. He has experience teaching in formal and informal settings with Bible college students and leaders from various cultures and generations, which includes teaching Christian Community Development for the “Perspectives on the World Christian Movement” course since 2023. Joel serves as the Canadian Coordinator of the World Evangelical Alliance’s Peace and Reconciliation Network, and as Director of Engagement with Lausanne Movement Canada.
Thematic Lead Disaster Response
The contributor is a leader in international disaster response, with over three decades of service in Christian NGOs. Based in Germany with his wife, he has spent the past 14 years focusing on establishing and leading the disaster response ministry of OM. He has been working in many countries prone to “natural” disasters and in conflict areas, focusing on the humanitarian-development-peace nexus as one underlying principle.
With a background in business administration and logistics, he has been instrumental in initiating and supporting many international disaster response projects. He consults and trains various NGOs and church denominations on disaster response strategies. He is actively involved in AEM INTERACTION Germany and serves on the boards of ZOA Germany and Stiftung Humanitäre Kooperation International. Additionally, he is a member of Medair Germany.
In addition to working in the “humanitarian marketplace”, he owns a small logistics and travel business for 30 years, blending his entrepreneurial skills with his commitment to global disaster response efforts. He loves to see disaster affected communities recover and finding new hope, and staff and volunteers finding their place and calling.
