Michael Shipler

Michael Shipler is the Vice President, Leadership and Networks at Search for Common Ground, a global peacebuilding organization and a nominee for the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize. He served as the acting CEO of Soliya - a subsidiary of Search for Common Ground and a global leader in virtual dialogue and exchange. 

Over twenty-five years, Michael has been committed to social impact and transforming impact. He has designed, managed, and scaled up innovative programs that address complex and sensitive issues in conflict-affected countries all over the world.

He has served in a number of roles at Search for Common Ground including Vice President of Strategy, Asia Regional Director, Director of Programs, and Director of Children and Youth. He was a pioneer of the Youth, Peace and Security sector. He expanded Search’s presence into 11 countries in Asia, co-founded a program to support Nepal’s peace process, co-founded the Washington Network on Children and Armed Conflict, and was part of the team that founded the Child Soldiers Initiative, among many other initiatives.

While working at Youth for Peace in Cambodia, he co-developed a leadership program which has served thousands of young people over two decades. He was an AFS exchange student in Argentina in 1994.  Michael holds his MA in War in the Modern World at King’s College in London. He is the author of The Dancing Country and Other Stories.