Peter Timmerman Appointed World Renew-Canada Director
The World Renew-Canada board announced on Sept. 29 that it has selected a new executive director.
“We are delighted to welcome Peter Timmerman as the new executive director of World Renew in Canada and as codirector of World Renew globally,” shared Jeff Adams, president of the board of World Renew-Canada.
“Peter brings an impressive range of leadership experience and program-focused expertise, including knowing firsthand the joys and challenges of serving in the field internationally, that we believe will benefit World Renew for many years to come.”
Timmerman’s vocational journey began in his youth through presentations at his church by World Renew (then known as CRWRC) that sparked a lifelong passion for global engagement and purposeful work. With more than 30 years of experience in international development and organizational leadership, Timmerman has served in various roles across Africa and Canada. His tenure includes 15 years with World Renew in Eastern and Southern Africa (Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, and Malawi) where he led community development programs focused on faith-based partnerships and sustainable change.
Timmerman’s leadership style is marked by empathy, collaboration, and innovation. From village-based internships to regional team leadership, he has consistently empowered communities and mentored emerging leaders.
Working with World Vision Canada, he led the support of their programs in 22 countries as the organization’s Africa regional director. At Canadian Feed the Children he served as vice president of programs, overseeing operations in five countries and expanding Indigenous programming in Canada. In both organizations he successfully managed major Global Affairs Canada grants, including a World Vision Governance-Ecosystems-Livelihoods project that applied complexity theory to community-based development initiatives.
Most recently, at CODE, Timmerman led efforts to help the organization learn and improve by evaluating its work and planning better strategies. They used a method called outcome mapping to track progress and guide future programs.
Timmerman noted that his return to World Renew consists of a calling rooted in faith. “I am a lifelong member of the Christian Reformed Church and an active pastoral elder at New Life CRC in Guelph, Ontario,” he said. “My goal is to offer leadership grounded in biblical truth, compassion, and a commitment to justice and mercy.”
He said that he emphasizes intentional Christian workplace culture through shared devotions and spiritual growth. He also said he is approaching his new role with humility and curiosity, committed to understanding the organizational landscape and building strong relationships within the codirectorate model.
“In my experience managing large teams, I have valued diversity, clarity of purpose, and relational leadership. My strategic planning method emphasizes broad, genuine participation and continuous learning,” he explained.
Drawing from fundraising experience that spans institutional, church-based, and individual giving, Timmerman has hosted donors across Africa, helping them connect with the impacts of their contributions. Comfortable in diverse church settings, he said he is committed to engaging both Christian Reformed and other church communities as a part of World Renew’s mission.
“I see this organization as being at a critical moment,” Timmerman continued. “We have an opportunity to remain grounded in our home denomination but poised to grow into new relationships and spheres while remaining rooted in our Reformed identity.”
Timmerman will begin his new role on Oct. 27, 2025, succeeding Mike White, chief marketing and philanthropy officer, who has been serving as interim director since January of this year.
“I praise God for an opportunity to serve the global church in this way,” said Timmerman. “Alongside U.S. executive director Carol Bremer-Bennett, I will work to uphold the values of World Renew: faith, effectiveness, stewardship, and people flourishing.”
