As President and CEO of PeaceBuilders Community, Inc., it is both a personal joy and a historic privilege for me to introduce Bennette Grace Tenecio, whom our Board of Trustees has prayerfully and unanimously appointed as the next President and CEO of PBCI, effective April 2026. This leadership transition marks a significant moment in the life of our organization. It is not merely a change in roles, but a continuation and deepening of a shared mission that has been nurtured through years of faithful service. In Bennette, we recognize a leader whose journey has been profoundly intertwined with PBCI’s own story, and whose appointment signals both continuity and fresh vision for the years ahead.
Bennette Grace Tenecio’s life reflects a sustained commitment to understanding human complexity and responding with compassion, discipline, and courage. Her academic formation began with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology at University of the Philippines Diliman, where she cultivated a deep interest in human behavior and emotional life. She went on to complete her Master’s degree in Special Education at the same institution, graduating as a Presidential Scholar—an achievement that speaks to both her intellectual rigor and her commitment to serve those with unique needs. Her further studies in Peace Studies at Canadian Mennonite University and the Canadian School of Peacebuilding expanded her vocation beyond individual care into the broader fields of conflict transformation, reconciliation, and community healing. This academic journey has equipped her with a rare integration of psychological insight, educational expertise, and peacebuilding praxis.
Her professional path has been marked by both diversity and depth. Early in her career, she served as Finance Director at International Bible Society East Asia, where she developed strong competencies in financial management and organizational stewardship. At the same time, her work as a freelance psychometrician with the Quezon City Regional Trial Court brought her into close engagement with individuals and families navigating complex emotional and legal realities. These early experiences revealed a defining characteristic of her leadership: the ability to hold together systems and stories, structure and sensitivity.
In the years that followed, Bennette stepped more fully into the world of humanitarian response and development. With Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches and Philippine Relief and Development Services, Inc., she played key roles in managing large-scale rehabilitation efforts, including post-disaster recovery initiatives following Typhoon Haiyan. Her work required navigating intricate networks of partners, donors, and communities, all while ensuring that programs remained grounded in integrity and responsiveness. She later served as Emergency Programme Officer with Christian Aid Philippines, where she managed emergency response operations during Typhoon Mangkhut, further strengthening her capacity to lead in high-pressure, high-impact contexts.
Her role with International Needs Philippines as Sponsorship and Communications Consultant demonstrated her ability to bridge the gap between field realities and global partnerships. Through careful communication and relationship-building, she helped sustain the trust and engagement necessary for long-term development work. Currently, as Country Representative for International Christian Concern / Care River, she continues to serve communities experiencing persecution and marginalization, particularly in Mindanao. In this role, she integrates project management, partnership development, and pastoral care, embodying a leadership that is both strategic and deeply compassionate.
Yet, beyond all these roles, it is Bennette’s long-standing relationship with PeaceBuilders Community, Inc. that gives her new appointment its deepest meaning. Since 2008, she has been an integral part of our organizational life. As Director of Support Operations, she strengthened the internal systems that sustain our fieldwork. As Strategic Adviser for Personnel Care and Development and as a Psychosocial and Trauma Healing Consultant, she developed and led programs that have become central to our identity as a peacebuilding community. She has walked with our teams in times of crisis, stood with communities in their grief and recovery, and helped shape a culture of care that defines who we are today.
It is precisely this history of faithful engagement that makes the decision of our Board of Trustees both clear and compelling. Her appointment as President and CEO beginning April 2026 is not a departure from our past, but a natural and Spirit-led progression of it. She knows our story, our people, and our mission—not from a distance, but from years of shared struggle, discernment, and service. At the same time, she brings fresh insight, renewed energy, and a forward-looking vision that will be essential as we navigate the evolving challenges of peacebuilding in our time.
As I prepare to pass on this mantle of leadership, I do so with a deep sense of peace and confidence. I have seen Bennette lead in quiet moments and in critical situations. I have witnessed her capacity to listen deeply, to decide wisely, and to act with integrity. She carries within her a steady courage and a grounded hope that I believe will guide PeaceBuilders Community, Inc. into its next chapter. Her leadership will not only strengthen our organizational systems and programs; it will also nurture the soul of our community, ensuring that we remain rooted in our calling to be instruments of reconciliation.
In this significant moment of transition, I invite our partners, colleagues, and the communities we serve to welcome and support Bennette Grace Tenecio in her new role as President and CEO. Her appointment is a testament to the kind of leadership we believe in—leadership that is formed over time, tested in real-life contexts, and sustained by a deep commitment to peace, justice, and healing. As April 2026 approaches, I look forward with hope, trusting that under her guidance, PeaceBuilders Community, Inc. will continue to grow as a community of practice and witness, faithfully embodying the transformative power of peace in our world.
