Mr. Edwin T. Elias has been appointed the Botswana Institute for Technology Research and Innovation (BITRI) Board Chairperson with effect from 1st April 2021.
Currently the Head of Ore Processing/Metallurgy for Debswana Mining Company, Mr. Elias brings to the BITRI Board a wealth of experience with 19 years in the Diamond industry business and 13 years as an Executive within Debswana and De Beers Group.
He is not a newcomer to the BITRI Board as he was an inaugural Board Member from 2013-18. Back then he was Chairperson of the BITRI Quality and Technology Committee, and a member of the Board Tender Committee as well as the Finance, Risk and Audit Committee.
Mr. Elias is also a Board Council Member for the Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST).
In addition, Mr. Elias is also a Director of Pacific Phoenix Ventures Inc., a Canadian based company that provides strategic and management support along with seed capital to early-stage companies that has demonstrated products, market traction, and potential economies of scale.
Mr. Elias holds an Executive Master’s in Business Administration (EMBA) from the University of Toronto – Rotman School of Management, Canada; a Bachelor of Science (BSc.) – Metallurgical Engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology, USA and Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) Certification from the London Business School, UK.
He is also a member of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM), as well as a
member of the Institute of Directors in Southern Africa (IoDSA).
As an Executive Leader, Mr. Elias has acquired competency skills in Technical and Strategic Insights, Business Excellence; Safety Excellence; Business Planning and Assurance; Leading People and Change; People Development and Stakeholder Management.
Mr. Elias is a strategic and visionary leader whose leadership will oversee the strategic direction of BITRI.