Bernard O. Suwa, PhD
While in Australia, Bernard studied theology at Moore Theological College and it was also there where he undertook doctoral study through research in education, focusing on the area of what is now known as blended learning – previously, open and distance learning, from the University of Western Sydney. The title of his thesis is: Provision of Support to University Students and Academics in Blended Learning – A Case Study of Time, Space and Pedagogy. Bernard also obtained post-doctoral certificate in ‘Dealing with the Past’, a study program of SwissPeace in Switzerland.
From 2007-2012, after returning from Australia, Bernard served as the Executive Director of ACROSS and from 2018-2021, he was appointed the Country Coordinator for Mission 21, which is a Swiss based Mission organization in Basel, Switzerland. He is also a former Secretary General of the Committee for National Healing, Peace and Reconciliation. In 2015, Bernard facilitated cross border peace and reconciliation conferences between the Kuku people of South Sudan and the Ma’di of Uganda, in Moyo and Kajo-keji respectively. This project was funded by Concordis International, which is a British based organization.
Later, through his consultancy work since 2014, Bernard has gained significant knowledge on Conflict Transformation, Transformational Leadership, Governance, Reconciliation, Peace-building and Civil Society issues in South Sudan. Among others, he consulted and researched for Civil Affairs Division (CAD) of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), UNICEF, Concordis International, the British Council, Conciliation Resources, Rift Valley Institute (RVI), among others.
He is currently the Lead Pastor at Grace Community Church, in Juba, South Sudan – a multi-national and non-denominational congregation he founded in 2011.
