diff --git a/examples/multi-agent-showcase/README.md b/examples/multi-agent-showcase/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..41009f0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/multi-agent-showcase/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+# OBJ-09: Signature Multi-Agent Showcase
+
+This showcase demonstrates a full WorkGraph collaboration lifecycle with three agents:
+
+- `governance-admin` (governance + approvals)
+- `agent-intake` (triage + routing)
+- `agent-builder` (implementation)
+- `agent-reviewer` (self-assembly + QA closure)
+
+The flow is intentionally end-to-end and reproducible from a fresh workspace. Every WorkGraph CLI invocation uses `--json`.
+
+## What this demonstrates
+
+1. **Agent registration and governance**
+   - Bootstrap admin registration
+   - Approval-based registration requests for agents
+   - Credential issuance and heartbeat publication
+
+2. **Thread lifecycle and plan-step coordination**
+   - Multi-thread objective decomposition
+   - Conversation and plan-step creation
+   - Claim/start/progress/done transitions across multiple actors
+
+3. **Self-assembly**
+   - Capability advertisement + requirements matching
+   - `assembleAgent()` claims the next suitable thread
+   - Existing plan-step is automatically activated for the assembled agent
+
+4. **Trigger -> run -> evidence loop**
+   - Trigger creation with a structured `dispatch-run` action
+   - Trigger engine cycle executes runs automatically
+   - Dispatch run evidence chain is validated from CLI output
+   - Ledger hash-chain integrity is verified
+
+## Run it
+
+From repo root:
+
+```bash
+bash examples/multi-agent-showcase/run.sh --json
+```
+
+Optional arguments:
+
+- `--workspace <path>`: use a specific workspace directory
+- `--skip-build`: skip `pnpm run build` (useful in tests)
+- `--json`: emit machine-readable summary only
+
+## Script breakdown
+
+- `scripts/01-governance.mjs`
+  - Initializes workspace
+  - Registers `governance-admin` with bootstrap token
+  - Runs request/review approval flow for all collaborating agents
+  - Outputs issued API keys and governance snapshot
+
+- `scripts/02-collaboration.mjs`
+  - Creates threads, conversation, and plan-steps
+  - Drives intake + builder thread lifecycle transitions
+  - Runs self-assembly for reviewer via SDK
+  - Completes reviewer plan-step and closes conversation
+
+- `scripts/03-trigger-loop.mjs`
+  - Creates active trigger via SDK with `dispatch-run` action
+  - Executes trigger engine loop with run execution
+  - Validates run status/evidence and ledger integrity
+
+- `scripts/run-showcase.mjs`
+  - Orchestrates all phases
+  - Collects rollup metrics and boolean capability checks
+  - Returns one final JSON report
+
+## Expected outcome
+
+The final JSON output contains:
+
+- `checks.governance`
+- `checks.selfAssemblyClaimedReviewerThread`
+- `checks.planStepCoordinated`
+- `checks.triggerRunEvidence`
+- `checks.ledgerActivity`
+
+When all checks are `true`, the showcase has completed successfully.
diff --git a/examples/multi-agent-showcase/run.sh b/examples/multi-agent-showcase/run.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..2dcb187
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/multi-agent-showcase/run.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
+REPO_ROOT="$(cd "${SCRIPT_DIR}/../.." && pwd)"
+
+WORKSPACE=""
+SKIP_BUILD=0
+JSON_MODE=0
+
+while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
+  case "$1" in
+    --workspace|-w)
+      if [[ $# -lt 2 ]]; then
+        echo "Missing value for $1" >&2
+        exit 1
+      fi
+      WORKSPACE="$2"
+      shift 2
+      ;;
+    --skip-build)
+      SKIP_BUILD=1
+      shift
+      ;;
+    --json)
+      JSON_MODE=1
+      shift
+      ;;
+    *)
+      echo "Unknown argument: $1" >&2
+      echo "Usage: run.sh [--workspace <path>] [--skip-build] [--json]" >&2
+      exit 1
+      ;;
+  esac
+done
+
+if [[ -z "${WORKSPACE}" ]]; then
+  WORKSPACE="$(mktemp -d /tmp/workgraph-obj09-showcase-XXXXXX)"
+fi
+
+if [[ "${SKIP_BUILD}" -ne 1 ]]; then
+  echo "[obj-09] building repository artifacts..." >&2
+  (
+    cd "${REPO_ROOT}"
+    pnpm run build >/dev/null
+  )
+fi
+
+SHOWCASE_ARGS=(--workspace "${WORKSPACE}" --json)
+if [[ "${SKIP_BUILD}" -eq 1 ]]; then
+  SHOWCASE_ARGS+=(--skip-build)
+fi
+
+if [[ "${JSON_MODE}" -ne 1 ]]; then
+  echo "[obj-09] running showcase in ${WORKSPACE}" >&2
+fi
+
+node "${SCRIPT_DIR}/scripts/run-showcase.mjs" "${SHOWCASE_ARGS[@]}"
diff --git a/examples/multi-agent-showcase/scripts/01-governance.mjs b/examples/multi-agent-showcase/scripts/01-governance.mjs
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..7215647
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/multi-agent-showcase/scripts/01-governance.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,165 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+
+import path from 'node:path';
+import {
+  ensureBuild,
+  logLine,
+  resolveRepoRoot,
+  resolveWorkspace,
+  runCliJson,
+} from './lib/demo-utils.mjs';
+
+const AGENTS = {
+  admin: 'governance-admin',
+  intake: 'agent-intake',
+  builder: 'agent-builder',
+  reviewer: 'agent-reviewer',
+};
+
+const roleByAgent = {
+  [AGENTS.intake]: 'roles/contributor.md',
+  [AGENTS.builder]: 'roles/contributor.md',
+  [AGENTS.reviewer]: 'roles/viewer.md',
+};
+
+async function main() {
+  const repoRoot = resolveRepoRoot(import.meta.url);
+  const resolved = resolveWorkspace(process.argv.slice(2));
+  if (!resolved.skipBuild) {
+    logLine('building dist artifacts', resolved.json);
+    await ensureBuild(repoRoot);
+  }
+  const workspacePath = resolved.workspacePath;
+
+  logLine('initializing workspace', resolved.json);
+  const init = await runCliJson(repoRoot, ['init', workspacePath, '--json']);
+  const bootstrapTrustToken = String(init.data.bootstrapTrustToken);
+
+  logLine('registering governance admin', resolved.json);
+  const adminRegistration = await runCliJson(repoRoot, [
+    'agent',
+    'register',
+    AGENTS.admin,
+    '-w',
+    workspacePath,
+    '--token',
+    bootstrapTrustToken,
+    '--role',
+    'roles/admin.md',
+    '--capabilities',
+    'policy:manage,agent:approve-registration,agent:register,dispatch:run,thread:claim,thread:manage',
+    '--actor',
+    AGENTS.admin,
+    '--json',
+  ]);
+  const adminApiKey = String(adminRegistration.data.apiKey ?? '');
+
+  const approvals = [];
+  for (const agent of [AGENTS.intake, AGENTS.builder, AGENTS.reviewer]) {
+    logLine(`requesting registration for ${agent}`, resolved.json);
+    const request = await runCliJson(
+      repoRoot,
+      [
+        'agent',
+        'request',
+        agent,
+        '-w',
+        workspacePath,
+        '--actor',
+        agent,
+        '--role',
+        roleByAgent[agent],
+        '--capabilities',
+        'thread:claim,thread:manage,dispatch:run,agent:heartbeat',
+        '--note',
+        `OBJ-09 demo onboarding for ${agent}`,
+        '--json',
+      ],
+      { env: adminApiKey ? { WORKGRAPH_API_KEY: adminApiKey } : undefined },
+    );
+    const requestPath = String(request.data.request.path);
+
+    logLine(`approving registration for ${agent}`, resolved.json);
+    const review = await runCliJson(
+      repoRoot,
+      [
+        'agent',
+        'review',
+        requestPath,
+        '-w',
+        workspacePath,
+        '--decision',
+        'approved',
+        '--actor',
+        AGENTS.admin,
+        '--role',
+        roleByAgent[agent],
+        '--capabilities',
+        'thread:claim,thread:manage,dispatch:run,agent:heartbeat',
+        '--json',
+      ],
+      { env: adminApiKey ? { WORKGRAPH_API_KEY: adminApiKey } : undefined },
+    );
+    approvals.push({
+      agent,
+      requestPath,
+      approvalPath: String(review.data.approval.path),
+      apiKey: String(review.data.apiKey ?? ''),
+    });
+  }
+
+  logLine('publishing initial agent heartbeats', resolved.json);
+  for (const approval of approvals) {
+    await runCliJson(
+      repoRoot,
+      [
+        'agent',
+        'heartbeat',
+        approval.agent,
+        '-w',
+        workspacePath,
+        '--actor',
+        approval.agent,
+        '--status',
+        'online',
+        '--capabilities',
+        'thread:claim,thread:manage,dispatch:run,agent:heartbeat',
+        '--json',
+      ],
+      { env: approval.apiKey ? { WORKGRAPH_API_KEY: approval.apiKey } : undefined },
+    );
+  }
+
+  const agents = await runCliJson(
+    repoRoot,
+    ['agent', 'list', '-w', workspacePath, '--json'],
+    { env: adminApiKey ? { WORKGRAPH_API_KEY: adminApiKey } : undefined },
+  );
+  const credentials = await runCliJson(
+    repoRoot,
+    ['agent', 'credential-list', '-w', workspacePath, '--json'],
+    { env: adminApiKey ? { WORKGRAPH_API_KEY: adminApiKey } : undefined },
+  );
+
+  const output = {
+    workspacePath,
+    bootstrapTrustToken,
+    admin: {
+      actor: AGENTS.admin,
+      apiKey: adminApiKey,
+      credentialId: String(adminRegistration.data.credential?.id ?? ''),
+    },
+    approvals,
+    governanceSnapshot: {
+      agentCount: Number(agents.data.count ?? 0),
+      credentialCount: Number(credentials.data.count ?? 0),
+    },
+  };
+  process.stdout.write(`${JSON.stringify(output, null, 2)}\n`);
+}
+
+main().catch((error) => {
+  const message = error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error);
+  process.stderr.write(`${message}\n`);
+  process.exit(1);
+});
diff --git a/examples/multi-agent-showcase/scripts/02-collaboration.mjs b/examples/multi-agent-showcase/scripts/02-collaboration.mjs
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..a863735
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/multi-agent-showcase/scripts/02-collaboration.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,471 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+
+import {
+  ensureBuild,
+  loadSdk,
+  logLine,
+  resolveRepoRoot,
+  runCliJson,
+} from './lib/demo-utils.mjs';
+
+async function main() {
+  const args = parseArgs(process.argv.slice(2));
+  if (!args.workspacePath) {
+    throw new Error('Missing required --workspace argument.');
+  }
+
+  const repoRoot = resolveRepoRoot(import.meta.url);
+  if (!args.skipBuild) {
+    logLine('building dist artifacts', args.json);
+    await ensureBuild(repoRoot);
+  }
+  const sdk = await loadSdk(repoRoot);
+
+  const workspacePath = args.workspacePath;
+  const apiKeyEnvByActor = {
+    [args.adminActor]: args.adminApiKey,
+    [args.intakeActor]: args.intakeApiKey,
+    [args.builderActor]: args.builderApiKey,
+    [args.reviewerActor]: args.reviewerApiKey,
+  };
+
+  logLine('creating lifecycle threads', args.json);
+  const intakeThread = await runCliJson(
+    repoRoot,
+    [
+      'thread',
+      'create',
+      'OBJ-09 intake triage',
+      '-w',
+      workspacePath,
+      '--goal',
+      'Collect triage context and route implementation work',
+      '--priority',
+      'high',
+      '--actor',
+      args.adminActor,
+      '--tags',
+      'obj-09,intake',
+      '--json',
+    ],
+    { env: toApiKeyEnv(args.adminApiKey) },
+  );
+  const intakeThreadPath = String(intakeThread.data.thread.path);
+
+  const builderThread = await runCliJson(
+    repoRoot,
+    [
+      'thread',
+      'create',
+      'OBJ-09 implementation',
+      '-w',
+      workspacePath,
+      '--goal',
+      'Implement coordinated fix and capture build evidence',
+      '--priority',
+      'high',
+      '--deps',
+      intakeThreadPath,
+      '--actor',
+      args.adminActor,
+      '--tags',
+      'obj-09,implementation',
+      '--json',
+    ],
+    { env: toApiKeyEnv(args.adminApiKey) },
+  );
+  const builderThreadPath = String(builderThread.data.thread.path);
+
+  const reviewerThread = await runCliJson(
+    repoRoot,
+    [
+      'thread',
+      'create',
+      'OBJ-09 verification',
+      '-w',
+      workspacePath,
+      '--goal',
+      'Verify the fix and close the coordination loop',
+      '--priority',
+      'medium',
+      '--deps',
+      builderThreadPath,
+      '--actor',
+      args.adminActor,
+      '--tags',
+      'obj-09,verification',
+      '--json',
+    ],
+    { env: toApiKeyEnv(args.adminApiKey) },
+  );
+  const reviewerThreadPath = String(reviewerThread.data.thread.path);
+
+  logLine('creating conversation and plan steps', args.json);
+  const conversation = await runCliJson(
+    repoRoot,
+    [
+      'conversation',
+      'create',
+      'OBJ-09 execution room',
+      '-w',
+      workspacePath,
+      '--actor',
+      args.adminActor,
+      '--threads',
+      `${intakeThreadPath},${builderThreadPath},${reviewerThreadPath}`,
+      '--tags',
+      'obj-09,multi-agent',
+      '--status',
+      'active',
+      '--json',
+    ],
+    { env: toApiKeyEnv(args.adminApiKey) },
+  );
+  const conversationPath = String(conversation.data.conversation.path);
+
+  const intakePlanStep = await runCliJson(
+    repoRoot,
+    [
+      'plan-step',
+      'create',
+      conversationPath,
+      'Triage incoming issue and hand off implementation',
+      '-w',
+      workspacePath,
+      '--actor',
+      args.adminActor,
+      '--thread',
+      intakeThreadPath,
+      '--assignee',
+      args.intakeActor,
+      '--order',
+      '1',
+      '--json',
+    ],
+    { env: toApiKeyEnv(args.adminApiKey) },
+  );
+  const intakeStepPath = String(intakePlanStep.data.step.path);
+
+  const builderPlanStep = await runCliJson(
+    repoRoot,
+    [
+      'plan-step',
+      'create',
+      conversationPath,
+      'Implement and validate coordinated fix',
+      '-w',
+      workspacePath,
+      '--actor',
+      args.adminActor,
+      '--thread',
+      builderThreadPath,
+      '--assignee',
+      args.builderActor,
+      '--order',
+      '2',
+      '--json',
+    ],
+    { env: toApiKeyEnv(args.adminApiKey) },
+  );
+  const builderStepPath = String(builderPlanStep.data.step.path);
+
+  const reviewerPlanStep = await runCliJson(
+    repoRoot,
+    [
+      'plan-step',
+      'create',
+      conversationPath,
+      'Run independent QA verification',
+      '-w',
+      workspacePath,
+      '--actor',
+      args.adminActor,
+      '--thread',
+      reviewerThreadPath,
+      '--assignee',
+      args.reviewerActor,
+      '--order',
+      '3',
+      '--json',
+    ],
+    { env: toApiKeyEnv(args.adminApiKey) },
+  );
+  const reviewerStepPath = String(reviewerPlanStep.data.step.path);
+
+  logLine('running intake and builder lifecycle', args.json);
+  await runCliJson(
+    repoRoot,
+    ['dispatch', 'claim', intakeThreadPath, '-w', workspacePath, '--actor', args.intakeActor, '--json'],
+    { env: toApiKeyEnv(args.intakeApiKey) },
+  );
+  await runCliJson(
+    repoRoot,
+    ['plan-step', 'start', intakeStepPath, '-w', workspacePath, '--actor', args.intakeActor, '--json'],
+    { env: toApiKeyEnv(args.intakeApiKey) },
+  );
+  await runCliJson(
+    repoRoot,
+    ['plan-step', 'progress', intakeStepPath, '100', '-w', workspacePath, '--actor', args.intakeActor, '--json'],
+    { env: toApiKeyEnv(args.intakeApiKey) },
+  );
+  await runCliJson(
+    repoRoot,
+    [
+      'thread',
+      'done',
+      intakeThreadPath,
+      '-w',
+      workspacePath,
+      '--actor',
+      args.intakeActor,
+      '--output',
+      'Triage completed with evidence https://github.com/versatly/workgraph/pull/obj-09-intake',
+      '--json',
+    ],
+    { env: toApiKeyEnv(args.intakeApiKey) },
+  );
+  await runCliJson(
+    repoRoot,
+    ['plan-step', 'done', intakeStepPath, '-w', workspacePath, '--actor', args.intakeActor, '--json'],
+    { env: toApiKeyEnv(args.intakeApiKey) },
+  );
+
+  await runCliJson(
+    repoRoot,
+    ['dispatch', 'claim', builderThreadPath, '-w', workspacePath, '--actor', args.builderActor, '--json'],
+    { env: toApiKeyEnv(args.builderApiKey) },
+  );
+  await runCliJson(
+    repoRoot,
+    ['plan-step', 'start', builderStepPath, '-w', workspacePath, '--actor', args.builderActor, '--json'],
+    { env: toApiKeyEnv(args.builderApiKey) },
+  );
+  await runCliJson(
+    repoRoot,
+    ['plan-step', 'progress', builderStepPath, '75', '-w', workspacePath, '--actor', args.builderActor, '--json'],
+    { env: toApiKeyEnv(args.builderApiKey) },
+  );
+  await runCliJson(
+    repoRoot,
+    [
+      'thread',
+      'done',
+      builderThreadPath,
+      '-w',
+      workspacePath,
+      '--actor',
+      args.builderActor,
+      '--output',
+      'Implementation completed with verification logs https://github.com/versatly/workgraph/pull/obj-09-build',
+      '--json',
+    ],
+    { env: toApiKeyEnv(args.builderApiKey) },
+  );
+  await runCliJson(
+    repoRoot,
+    ['plan-step', 'done', builderStepPath, '-w', workspacePath, '--actor', args.builderActor, '--json'],
+    { env: toApiKeyEnv(args.builderApiKey) },
+  );
+
+  logLine('advertising reviewer capabilities and running self-assembly', args.json);
+  await runCliJson(
+    repoRoot,
+    [
+      'primitive',
+      'update',
+      reviewerThreadPath,
+      '-w',
+      workspacePath,
+      '--actor',
+      args.reviewerActor,
+      '--set',
+      'required_capabilities=quality:review',
+      '--set',
+      'required_skills=qa-verification',
+      '--set',
+      'required_adapters=shell-worker',
+      '--json',
+    ],
+    { env: toApiKeyEnv(args.reviewerApiKey) },
+  );
+  await runCliJson(
+    repoRoot,
+    [
+      'agent',
+      'heartbeat',
+      args.reviewerActor,
+      '-w',
+      workspacePath,
+      '--actor',
+      args.reviewerActor,
+      '--status',
+      'online',
+      '--current-task',
+      reviewerThreadPath,
+      '--capabilities',
+      'thread:claim,thread:manage,dispatch:run,quality:review,skill:qa-verification,adapter:shell-worker',
+      '--json',
+    ],
+    { env: toApiKeyEnv(args.reviewerApiKey) },
+  );
+
+  const selfAssembly = sdk.agentSelfAssembly.assembleAgent(
+    workspacePath,
+    args.reviewerActor,
+    {
+      credentialToken: args.reviewerApiKey,
+      advertise: {
+        capabilities: ['quality:review'],
+        skills: ['qa-verification'],
+        adapters: ['shell-worker'],
+      },
+      createPlanStepIfMissing: true,
+      recoverStaleClaims: true,
+    },
+  );
+
+  await runCliJson(
+    repoRoot,
+    ['plan-step', 'progress', reviewerStepPath, '100', '-w', workspacePath, '--actor', args.reviewerActor, '--json'],
+    { env: toApiKeyEnv(args.reviewerApiKey) },
+  );
+  await runCliJson(
+    repoRoot,
+    ['plan-step', 'done', reviewerStepPath, '-w', workspacePath, '--actor', args.reviewerActor, '--json'],
+    { env: toApiKeyEnv(args.reviewerApiKey) },
+  );
+  await runCliJson(
+    repoRoot,
+    [
+      'thread',
+      'done',
+      reviewerThreadPath,
+      '-w',
+      workspacePath,
+      '--actor',
+      args.reviewerActor,
+      '--output',
+      'QA sign-off completed with green checks https://github.com/versatly/workgraph/pull/obj-09-qa',
+      '--json',
+    ],
+    { env: toApiKeyEnv(args.reviewerApiKey) },
+  );
+  await runCliJson(
+    repoRoot,
+    [
+      'conversation',
+      'message',
+      conversationPath,
+      'All coordination plan-steps completed by intake, builder, and reviewer agents.',
+      '-w',
+      workspacePath,
+      '--actor',
+      args.adminActor,
+      '--kind',
+      'decision',
+      '--thread',
+      reviewerThreadPath,
+      '--json',
+    ],
+    { env: toApiKeyEnv(args.adminApiKey) },
+  );
+
+  const conversationState = await runCliJson(
+    repoRoot,
+    ['conversation', 'state', conversationPath, '-w', workspacePath, '--json'],
+    { env: toApiKeyEnv(args.adminApiKey) },
+  );
+  const readyThreads = await runCliJson(
+    repoRoot,
+    ['thread', 'list', '-w', workspacePath, '--ready', '--json'],
+    { env: toApiKeyEnv(args.adminApiKey) },
+  );
+
+  const output = {
+    workspacePath,
+    conversationPath,
+    threadPaths: {
+      intakeThreadPath,
+      builderThreadPath,
+      reviewerThreadPath,
+    },
+    planStepPaths: {
+      intakeStepPath,
+      builderStepPath,
+      reviewerStepPath,
+    },
+    selfAssembly: {
+      agentName: selfAssembly.agentName,
+      claimedThreadPath: selfAssembly.claimedThread?.path,
+      planStepPath: selfAssembly.planStep?.path,
+      warnings: selfAssembly.warnings,
+    },
+    conversationSummary: conversationState.data.summary,
+    readyThreadCount: Number(readyThreads.data.count ?? 0),
+    actorApiKeys: apiKeyEnvByActor,
+  };
+  process.stdout.write(`${JSON.stringify(output, null, 2)}\n`);
+}
+
+function parseArgs(args) {
+  const parsed = {
+    workspacePath: '',
+    adminActor: 'governance-admin',
+    intakeActor: 'agent-intake',
+    builderActor: 'agent-builder',
+    reviewerActor: 'agent-reviewer',
+    adminApiKey: '',
+    intakeApiKey: '',
+    builderApiKey: '',
+    reviewerApiKey: '',
+    skipBuild: false,
+    json: false,
+  };
+  for (let idx = 0; idx < args.length; idx += 1) {
+    const arg = String(args[idx] ?? '');
+    if ((arg === '--workspace' || arg === '-w') && idx + 1 < args.length) {
+      parsed.workspacePath = String(args[idx + 1]);
+      idx += 1;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (arg === '--admin-api-key' && idx + 1 < args.length) {
+      parsed.adminApiKey = String(args[idx + 1]);
+      idx += 1;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (arg === '--intake-api-key' && idx + 1 < args.length) {
+      parsed.intakeApiKey = String(args[idx + 1]);
+      idx += 1;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (arg === '--builder-api-key' && idx + 1 < args.length) {
+      parsed.builderApiKey = String(args[idx + 1]);
+      idx += 1;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (arg === '--reviewer-api-key' && idx + 1 < args.length) {
+      parsed.reviewerApiKey = String(args[idx + 1]);
+      idx += 1;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (arg === '--skip-build') {
+      parsed.skipBuild = true;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (arg === '--json') {
+      parsed.json = true;
+    }
+  }
+  return parsed;
+}
+
+function toApiKeyEnv(apiKey) {
+  if (!apiKey) return undefined;
+  return { WORKGRAPH_API_KEY: apiKey };
+}
+
+main().catch((error) => {
+  const message = error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error);
+  process.stderr.write(`${message}\n`);
+  process.exit(1);
+});
diff --git a/examples/multi-agent-showcase/scripts/03-trigger-loop.mjs b/examples/multi-agent-showcase/scripts/03-trigger-loop.mjs
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..654e391
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/multi-agent-showcase/scripts/03-trigger-loop.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,247 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+
+import {
+  ensureBuild,
+  loadSdk,
+  logLine,
+  resolveRepoRoot,
+  runCliJson,
+} from './lib/demo-utils.mjs';
+
+async function main() {
+  const args = parseArgs(process.argv.slice(2));
+  if (!args.workspacePath) {
+    throw new Error('Missing required --workspace argument.');
+  }
+
+  const repoRoot = resolveRepoRoot(import.meta.url);
+  if (!args.skipBuild) {
+    logLine('building dist artifacts', args.json);
+    await ensureBuild(repoRoot);
+  }
+  const sdk = await loadSdk(repoRoot);
+  const workspacePath = args.workspacePath;
+
+  logLine('creating active trigger for thread-complete events', args.json);
+  const shellCommand = `"${process.execPath}" -e "console.log('obj09-trigger-ok'); console.log('https://github.com/versatly/workgraph/pull/obj-09-trigger');"`;
+  const trigger = sdk.store.create(
+    workspacePath,
+    'trigger',
+    {
+      title: 'OBJ-09 thread completion trigger',
+      status: 'active',
+      condition: {
+        type: 'event',
+        event: 'thread-complete',
+      },
+      action: {
+        type: 'dispatch-run',
+        objective: 'React to completed thread {{matched_event_latest_target}}',
+        adapter: 'shell-worker',
+        context: {
+          shell_command: shellCommand,
+        },
+      },
+      cooldown: 0,
+      tags: ['obj-09', 'trigger'],
+    },
+    '# OBJ-09 Trigger\n\nDispatches a shell-worker run after thread completion events.\n',
+    args.adminActor,
+  );
+
+  // First cycle initializes event cursor for deterministic behavior.
+  await runCliJson(
+    repoRoot,
+    [
+      'trigger',
+      'engine',
+      'run',
+      '-w',
+      workspacePath,
+      '--actor',
+      args.adminActor,
+      '--execute-runs',
+      '--agents',
+      `${args.intakeActor},${args.builderActor},${args.reviewerActor}`,
+      '--max-steps',
+      '40',
+      '--step-delay-ms',
+      '0',
+      '--timeout-ms',
+      '30000',
+      '--json',
+    ],
+    { env: toApiKeyEnv(args.adminApiKey) },
+  );
+
+  logLine('creating a source thread and completing it', args.json);
+  const sourceThread = await runCliJson(
+    repoRoot,
+    [
+      'thread',
+      'create',
+      'OBJ-09 trigger source',
+      '-w',
+      workspacePath,
+      '--goal',
+      'Emit one completion event for trigger execution',
+      '--actor',
+      args.adminActor,
+      '--priority',
+      'high',
+      '--tags',
+      'obj-09,trigger-source',
+      '--json',
+    ],
+    { env: toApiKeyEnv(args.adminApiKey) },
+  );
+  const sourceThreadPath = String(sourceThread.data.thread.path);
+
+  await runCliJson(
+    repoRoot,
+    ['thread', 'claim', sourceThreadPath, '-w', workspacePath, '--actor', args.intakeActor, '--json'],
+    { env: toApiKeyEnv(args.intakeApiKey) },
+  );
+  await runCliJson(
+    repoRoot,
+    [
+      'thread',
+      'done',
+      sourceThreadPath,
+      '-w',
+      workspacePath,
+      '--actor',
+      args.intakeActor,
+      '--output',
+      'Trigger source completed for OBJ-09 evidence loop https://github.com/versatly/workgraph/pull/obj-09-trigger-source',
+      '--json',
+    ],
+    { env: toApiKeyEnv(args.intakeApiKey) },
+  );
+
+  logLine('running trigger-run-evidence loop', args.json);
+  const secondCycle = await runCliJson(
+    repoRoot,
+    [
+      'trigger',
+      'engine',
+      'run',
+      '-w',
+      workspacePath,
+      '--actor',
+      args.adminActor,
+      '--execute-runs',
+      '--agents',
+      `${args.intakeActor},${args.builderActor},${args.reviewerActor}`,
+      '--max-steps',
+      '40',
+      '--step-delay-ms',
+      '0',
+      '--timeout-ms',
+      '30000',
+      '--json',
+    ],
+    { env: toApiKeyEnv(args.adminApiKey) },
+  );
+
+  const executedRuns = Array.isArray(secondCycle.data.executedRuns) ? secondCycle.data.executedRuns : [];
+  const triggeredRun = executedRuns[0];
+  if (!triggeredRun || !triggeredRun.runId) {
+    throw new Error('Expected at least one executed run from trigger engine.');
+  }
+  const runId = String(triggeredRun.runId);
+
+  const runStatus = await runCliJson(
+    repoRoot,
+    ['dispatch', 'status', runId, '-w', workspacePath, '--json'],
+    { env: toApiKeyEnv(args.adminApiKey) },
+  );
+  const runLogs = await runCliJson(
+    repoRoot,
+    ['dispatch', 'logs', runId, '-w', workspacePath, '--json'],
+    { env: toApiKeyEnv(args.adminApiKey) },
+  );
+  const ledgerSnapshot = await runCliJson(
+    repoRoot,
+    ['ledger', 'show', '-w', workspacePath, '--count', '20', '--json'],
+    { env: toApiKeyEnv(args.adminApiKey) },
+  );
+
+  const output = {
+    workspacePath,
+    triggerPath: trigger.path,
+    sourceThreadPath,
+    triggerLoop: {
+      runId,
+      status: String(runStatus.data.run.status),
+      evidenceCount: Number(runStatus.data.run?.evidenceChain?.count ?? 0),
+      logEntries: Array.isArray(runLogs.data.logs) ? runLogs.data.logs.length : 0,
+      cycleFired: Number(secondCycle.data.cycle?.fired ?? 0),
+    },
+    ledgerSnapshotCount: Number(ledgerSnapshot.data.count ?? 0),
+  };
+  process.stdout.write(`${JSON.stringify(output, null, 2)}\n`);
+}
+
+function parseArgs(args) {
+  const parsed = {
+    workspacePath: '',
+    adminActor: 'governance-admin',
+    intakeActor: 'agent-intake',
+    builderActor: 'agent-builder',
+    reviewerActor: 'agent-reviewer',
+    adminApiKey: '',
+    intakeApiKey: '',
+    builderApiKey: '',
+    reviewerApiKey: '',
+    skipBuild: false,
+    json: false,
+  };
+  for (let idx = 0; idx < args.length; idx += 1) {
+    const arg = String(args[idx] ?? '');
+    if ((arg === '--workspace' || arg === '-w') && idx + 1 < args.length) {
+      parsed.workspacePath = String(args[idx + 1]);
+      idx += 1;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (arg === '--admin-api-key' && idx + 1 < args.length) {
+      parsed.adminApiKey = String(args[idx + 1]);
+      idx += 1;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (arg === '--intake-api-key' && idx + 1 < args.length) {
+      parsed.intakeApiKey = String(args[idx + 1]);
+      idx += 1;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (arg === '--builder-api-key' && idx + 1 < args.length) {
+      parsed.builderApiKey = String(args[idx + 1]);
+      idx += 1;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (arg === '--reviewer-api-key' && idx + 1 < args.length) {
+      parsed.reviewerApiKey = String(args[idx + 1]);
+      idx += 1;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (arg === '--skip-build') {
+      parsed.skipBuild = true;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (arg === '--json') {
+      parsed.json = true;
+    }
+  }
+  return parsed;
+}
+
+function toApiKeyEnv(apiKey) {
+  if (!apiKey) return undefined;
+  return { WORKGRAPH_API_KEY: apiKey };
+}
+
+main().catch((error) => {
+  const message = error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error);
+  process.stderr.write(`${message}\n`);
+  process.exit(1);
+});
diff --git a/examples/multi-agent-showcase/scripts/lib/demo-utils.mjs b/examples/multi-agent-showcase/scripts/lib/demo-utils.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8ea5e9f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/multi-agent-showcase/scripts/lib/demo-utils.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,130 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+
+import fs from 'node:fs';
+import os from 'node:os';
+import path from 'node:path';
+import { execFile } from 'node:child_process';
+import { promisify } from 'node:util';
+import { fileURLToPath, pathToFileURL } from 'node:url';
+
+const execFileAsync = promisify(execFile);
+
+export function resolveRepoRoot(fromImportMetaUrl) {
+  let current = path.resolve(path.dirname(fileURLToPath(fromImportMetaUrl)));
+  for (let depth = 0; depth < 8; depth += 1) {
+    const pkgPath = path.join(current, 'package.json');
+    if (fs.existsSync(pkgPath)) {
+      try {
+        const pkg = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(pkgPath, 'utf-8'));
+        if (pkg && pkg.name === '@versatly/workgraph') {
+          return current;
+        }
+      } catch {
+        // Keep traversing upward.
+      }
+    }
+    const parent = path.dirname(current);
+    if (parent === current) break;
+    current = parent;
+  }
+  throw new Error('Unable to resolve WorkGraph repository root from showcase script location.');
+}
+
+export function resolveWorkspace(args) {
+  const parsed = parseArgs(args);
+  if (parsed.workspace) {
+    return {
+      workspacePath: path.resolve(parsed.workspace),
+      providedByUser: true,
+      json: parsed.json,
+      skipBuild: parsed.skipBuild,
+    };
+  }
+  const workspacePath = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'workgraph-obj09-showcase-'));
+  return {
+    workspacePath,
+    providedByUser: false,
+    json: parsed.json,
+    skipBuild: parsed.skipBuild,
+  };
+}
+
+export async function runCliJson(repoRoot, args, options = {}) {
+  const cliPath = path.join(repoRoot, 'bin', 'workgraph.js');
+  const fullArgs = args.includes('--json') ? [...args] : [...args, '--json'];
+  const env = {
+    ...process.env,
+    ...(options.env ?? {}),
+  };
+  const { stdout, stderr } = await execFileAsync('node', [cliPath, ...fullArgs], {
+    cwd: repoRoot,
+    env,
+    maxBuffer: 10 * 1024 * 1024,
+  });
+  const output = String(stdout ?? '').trim();
+  let parsed;
+  try {
+    parsed = JSON.parse(output);
+  } catch (error) {
+    const detail = error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error);
+    throw new Error(`CLI output was not valid JSON (${fullArgs.join(' ')}): ${detail}\n${output}`);
+  }
+  if (!parsed || parsed.ok !== true) {
+    const rendered = JSON.stringify(parsed, null, 2);
+    const err = String(stderr ?? '').trim();
+    throw new Error(`CLI command failed (${fullArgs.join(' ')}): ${rendered}${err ? `\n${err}` : ''}`);
+  }
+  return parsed;
+}
+
+export async function ensureBuild(repoRoot) {
+  const distCli = path.join(repoRoot, 'dist', 'cli.js');
+  const distIndex = path.join(repoRoot, 'dist', 'index.js');
+  if (fs.existsSync(distCli) && fs.existsSync(distIndex)) {
+    return;
+  }
+  await execFileAsync(resolvePnpmCommand(), ['run', 'build'], {
+    cwd: repoRoot,
+    env: process.env,
+    maxBuffer: 20 * 1024 * 1024,
+  });
+}
+
+export async function loadSdk(repoRoot) {
+  const sdkUrl = pathToFileURL(path.join(repoRoot, 'dist', 'index.js')).href;
+  return import(sdkUrl);
+}
+
+export function logLine(message, jsonMode) {
+  if (!jsonMode) {
+    process.stderr.write(`${message}\n`);
+  }
+}
+
+function parseArgs(args) {
+  const parsed = {
+    workspace: '',
+    json: false,
+    skipBuild: false,
+  };
+  for (let idx = 0; idx < args.length; idx += 1) {
+    const arg = String(args[idx] ?? '');
+    if ((arg === '--workspace' || arg === '-w') && idx + 1 < args.length) {
+      parsed.workspace = String(args[idx + 1]);
+      idx += 1;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (arg === '--json') {
+      parsed.json = true;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (arg === '--skip-build') {
+      parsed.skipBuild = true;
+    }
+  }
+  return parsed;
+}
+
+function resolvePnpmCommand() {
+  return process.platform === 'win32' ? 'pnpm.cmd' : 'pnpm';
+}
diff --git a/examples/multi-agent-showcase/scripts/run-showcase.mjs b/examples/multi-agent-showcase/scripts/run-showcase.mjs
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..10bcaa8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/multi-agent-showcase/scripts/run-showcase.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,151 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+
+import path from 'node:path';
+import { execFile } from 'node:child_process';
+import { promisify } from 'node:util';
+import { fileURLToPath } from 'node:url';
+import {
+  ensureBuild,
+  logLine,
+  resolveRepoRoot,
+  resolveWorkspace,
+  runCliJson,
+} from './lib/demo-utils.mjs';
+
+const execFileAsync = promisify(execFile);
+
+async function main() {
+  const repoRoot = resolveRepoRoot(import.meta.url);
+  const resolved = resolveWorkspace(process.argv.slice(2));
+  const workspacePath = resolved.workspacePath;
+
+  if (!resolved.skipBuild) {
+    logLine('building dist artifacts', resolved.json);
+    await ensureBuild(repoRoot);
+  }
+
+  const scriptDir = path.resolve(path.dirname(fileURLToPath(import.meta.url)));
+  logLine('phase 1/3: governance and registration', resolved.json);
+  const governance = await runScriptJson(scriptDir, '01-governance.mjs', [
+    '--workspace',
+    workspacePath,
+    '--json',
+    ...(resolved.skipBuild ? ['--skip-build'] : []),
+  ]);
+
+  const approvalByAgent = new Map();
+  for (const approval of governance.approvals ?? []) {
+    approvalByAgent.set(String(approval.agent), String(approval.apiKey ?? ''));
+  }
+
+  logLine('phase 2/3: collaborative execution with self-assembly', resolved.json);
+  const collaboration = await runScriptJson(scriptDir, '02-collaboration.mjs', [
+    '--workspace',
+    workspacePath,
+    '--admin-api-key',
+    String(governance.admin?.apiKey ?? ''),
+    '--intake-api-key',
+    String(approvalByAgent.get('agent-intake') ?? ''),
+    '--builder-api-key',
+    String(approvalByAgent.get('agent-builder') ?? ''),
+    '--reviewer-api-key',
+    String(approvalByAgent.get('agent-reviewer') ?? ''),
+    '--json',
+    ...(resolved.skipBuild ? ['--skip-build'] : []),
+  ]);
+
+  logLine('phase 3/3: trigger -> run -> evidence loop', resolved.json);
+  const triggerLoop = await runScriptJson(scriptDir, '03-trigger-loop.mjs', [
+    '--workspace',
+    workspacePath,
+    '--admin-api-key',
+    String(governance.admin?.apiKey ?? ''),
+    '--intake-api-key',
+    String(approvalByAgent.get('agent-intake') ?? ''),
+    '--builder-api-key',
+    String(approvalByAgent.get('agent-builder') ?? ''),
+    '--reviewer-api-key',
+    String(approvalByAgent.get('agent-reviewer') ?? ''),
+    '--json',
+    ...(resolved.skipBuild ? ['--skip-build'] : []),
+  ]);
+
+  const threadList = await runCliJson(
+    repoRoot,
+    ['thread', 'list', '-w', workspacePath, '--json'],
+    {
+      env: governance.admin?.apiKey ? { WORKGRAPH_API_KEY: String(governance.admin.apiKey) } : undefined,
+    },
+  );
+  const dispatchRuns = await runCliJson(
+    repoRoot,
+    ['dispatch', 'list', '-w', workspacePath, '--json'],
+    {
+      env: governance.admin?.apiKey ? { WORKGRAPH_API_KEY: String(governance.admin.apiKey) } : undefined,
+    },
+  );
+  const ledgerRecent = await runCliJson(
+    repoRoot,
+    ['ledger', 'show', '-w', workspacePath, '--count', '25', '--json'],
+    {
+      env: governance.admin?.apiKey ? { WORKGRAPH_API_KEY: String(governance.admin.apiKey) } : undefined,
+    },
+  );
+
+  const demoChecks = {
+    governance: Number(governance.governanceSnapshot?.agentCount ?? 0) >= 4,
+    selfAssemblyClaimedReviewerThread:
+      String(collaboration.selfAssembly?.claimedThreadPath ?? '') === String(collaboration.threadPaths?.reviewerThreadPath ?? ''),
+    planStepCoordinated:
+      String(collaboration.selfAssembly?.planStepPath ?? '') === String(collaboration.planStepPaths?.reviewerStepPath ?? ''),
+    triggerRunEvidence:
+      String(triggerLoop.triggerLoop?.status ?? '') === 'succeeded'
+      && Number(triggerLoop.triggerLoop?.evidenceCount ?? 0) > 0,
+    ledgerActivity:
+      Number(triggerLoop.ledgerSnapshotCount ?? 0) > 0,
+  };
+  const pass = Object.values(demoChecks).every(Boolean);
+
+  const output = {
+    ok: pass,
+    workspacePath,
+    providedWorkspacePath: resolved.providedByUser,
+    checks: demoChecks,
+    phases: {
+      governance,
+      collaboration,
+      triggerLoop,
+    },
+    rollup: {
+      threadCount: Number(threadList.data.count ?? 0),
+      runCount: Array.isArray(dispatchRuns.data.runs) ? dispatchRuns.data.runs.length : 0,
+      ledgerEntryCount: Number(ledgerRecent.data.count ?? 0),
+    },
+  };
+
+  process.stdout.write(`${JSON.stringify(output, null, 2)}\n`);
+  if (!pass) {
+    process.exitCode = 1;
+  }
+}
+
+async function runScriptJson(scriptDir, scriptName, args) {
+  const scriptPath = path.join(scriptDir, scriptName);
+  const { stdout, stderr } = await execFileAsync('node', [scriptPath, ...args], {
+    maxBuffer: 10 * 1024 * 1024,
+    env: process.env,
+  });
+  const output = String(stdout ?? '').trim();
+  try {
+    return JSON.parse(output);
+  } catch (error) {
+    const detail = error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error);
+    throw new Error(`Script ${scriptName} did not emit valid JSON: ${detail}\nstdout:\n${output}\nstderr:\n${String(stderr ?? '')}`);
+  }
+}
+
+main().catch((error) => {
+  const message = error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error);
+  process.stderr.write(`${message}\n`);
+  process.exit(1);
+});
diff --git a/tests/integration/multi-agent-showcase.test.ts b/tests/integration/multi-agent-showcase.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dac6792
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/integration/multi-agent-showcase.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+import { beforeAll, describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
+import fs from 'node:fs';
+import os from 'node:os';
+import path from 'node:path';
+import { spawnSync } from 'node:child_process';
+import { ensureCliBuiltForTests } from '../helpers/cli-build.js';
+
+describe('OBJ-09 multi-agent showcase', () => {
+  beforeAll(() => {
+    ensureCliBuiltForTests();
+  });
+
+  it('runs end-to-end from a fresh workspace', () => {
+    const workspacePath = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'wg-obj09-showcase-'));
+    try {
+      const result = spawnSync(
+        'bash',
+        [
+          path.resolve('examples/multi-agent-showcase/run.sh'),
+          '--workspace',
+          workspacePath,
+          '--skip-build',
+          '--json',
+        ],
+        {
+          encoding: 'utf-8',
+          cwd: path.resolve('.'),
+          env: process.env,
+        },
+      );
+      expect(result.status).toBe(0);
+
+      const output = String(result.stdout ?? '').trim();
+      let parsed: {
+        ok: boolean;
+        checks: Record<string, boolean>;
+        rollup: { threadCount: number; runCount: number; ledgerEntryCount: number };
+      };
+      try {
+        parsed = JSON.parse(output) as typeof parsed;
+      } catch {
+        throw new Error(`Showcase output was not valid JSON:\n${output}`);
+      }
+
+      expect(parsed.ok).toBe(true);
+      expect(parsed.checks.governance).toBe(true);
+      expect(parsed.checks.selfAssemblyClaimedReviewerThread).toBe(true);
+      expect(parsed.checks.planStepCoordinated).toBe(true);
+      expect(parsed.checks.triggerRunEvidence).toBe(true);
+      expect(parsed.checks.ledgerActivity).toBe(true);
+      expect(parsed.rollup.threadCount).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(4);
+      expect(parsed.rollup.runCount).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(1);
+      expect(parsed.rollup.ledgerEntryCount).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+
+      expect(fs.existsSync(path.join(workspacePath, '.workgraph', 'ledger.jsonl'))).toBe(true);
+      expect(fs.existsSync(path.join(workspacePath, 'threads'))).toBe(true);
+    } finally {
+      fs.rmSync(workspacePath, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    }
+  });
+});