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Prof. Rejoice Tsheko is an Associate Professor of Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering and former Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs & Research) and Head of Department (2001-2007) at the Botswana University of Agriculture & Natural Resources.

With numerous scientific publications in internationally recognised journals, and over twenty-six (26) years in the university system, Prof. Tsheko is a seasoned lecturer, researcher, and consultant. Prof. Tsheko has also carried out numerous local and international consultancies in the Agricultural and Water Sectors, and Remote Sensing.</p>
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Prof. Tsheko’s vast experience in corporate governance includes serving in the Board of Botswana Telecommunications Corporation Limited (BTCL) and Editorial Board Member of the WaterSA journal, a publication of Water Research Commission (WRC) in South Africa.

Prof. Tsheko holds a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne and a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering from McGill University in Canada. He is also a graduate of University of Stellenbosch Senior Management Development Programme (SMDP) and The Africa Directors Programme (ADP).</p>

Dr Poloko Moloko Kebaabetswe is the Director, Heritage Research Solutions and Green Heritage Wellness Centre. She holds a PhD in Public Health and Behavioural Science from the University of Texas. Dr Kebaabetswe was a  Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Health Sciences before joining Botswana Harvard Partnership as a Behavioural Scientist and later joined BOTUSA (Botswana-USA) as a Co-Principal Investigator in the TRUVADA TDF2 HIV study. She joined the University of Botswana, School of Medicine as Director of the Health Systems Research Unit (HSRU). She has also worked as a Consultant at the Botswana Harvard Partnership and at UNICEF Botswana. She served in the World Health Organization Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) of the Special program for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases and regionally served in the WHO African Advisory Committee on Health Research and Development in Congo, Brazzaville.

Dr Kebaabetswe is a recipient of several distinguished awards both locally and internationally such as, the Center for Disease Control (CDC), & the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), USA, Meritorious Honors Award from American Embassy - CDC for Outstanding Contributions to the BOTUSA Strategic Plan on Human Capacity Development. She was also awarded the International Public Health Leadership Award for Dedication and Leadership after successfully directing the TDF2 HIV Prevention Study from the Disease Control, Coordinating Office for Global Health, Department of Health and Human Services, USA.

Dr Ontiretse Madisa Mine has been appointed to the BITRI Board of Directors with effect from 1st December 2018. Dr Mine is a Senior Consultant Virologist and Head of the National Health Laboratory in the Ministry of Health and Wellness. He has held various positions in the Ministry of Health such as Consultant Virologist and Head of Botswana Harvard HIV Reference Laboratory. Prior to joining the Ministry of Health he was a Lecturer in Genetics, Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology at the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Dr Mine was a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in the Fogarty International Training Program in HIV/AIDS related Epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health at Harvard University, Boston Massachusetts in the United States. Dr Mine has published extensively on HIV/AIDS as well as made presentations at various conferences both locally and internationally. He is a currently a member of the Board of Members of the Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute (BHP). He holds PhD in Molecular Biology and Vaccines development from Murdoch University in Perth, Western Australia.

Ms. Gaone Susan Macholo is an experienced leader in the Human Capital field and has held executive positions in large corporations spanning various sectors and industries. During her illustrious career, Ms. Macholo held senior leadership positions in Debswana Diamond Co. (Pty) Ltd, BCL Mine Ltd and First National Bank of Botswana. While at FNB, she steered the achievement of ‘Employer of Choice’ status through exceptional employee engagement levels exceeding 75% comparative to Fortune 500 companies. She also developed the FNB transformation strategy that would ensure that FNB is well prepared for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).

Ms. Macholo is currently the Chairperson of G4S Botswana Ltd and a Member of the Botswana Telecommunications Corporation Limited Board. She is also a certified Leadership Coach and Trainer.</p>
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Ms. Macholo holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Demography from the University of Botswana and a Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Massachusetts, USA. She has also attended the Executive Leadership Development Course from the Graduate School of Business at the University of Cape Town.

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Dr Sebusi Odisitse is a Lecturer in the Department of Chemical and Forensic Sciences at the Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST). Dr Sebusi holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Cape Town in South Africa. Before joining BIUST, Dr Sebusi previously held the position of Researcher at BITRI in the department of Nanomaterials, involved in research for diagnostics specifically in water, food, human and animal health, environment, water filtration and air filtration technologies. He also worked at the Institute of Health Sciences in Molepolole, University of Cape Town and Cape Peninsula University of Technology in Cape Town, South Africa. His research interests are in Bio-inorganic, Physical and Analytical Separation Techniques, Materials Science and Nanotechnology and has published extensively in world-renowned publications. He is a professional member of the Royal Society of Chemistry (UK), American Chemical Society (US) and South African Chemical Institute (SA).

He serves as a Board of Director for Botswana Geoscience Institute, and Chemical Weapons (Prohibition), as well as in other national committees.

Force Tefo Thema is a Senior Technologist at the Botswana University of Agriculture & Natural Resources. He holds a PhD in Condensed Physics/ Nanotechnology from University of South Africa (UNISA). Before joining BUAN, he worked in various capacities at Owens Corning, Botswana Breweries and Debswana Diamond Mining Company. Dr Thema is a recipient of several awards and honours, among them, the iThemba-LABS and National Research Fund (NRF) top awards in 2014, 2015 & 2016 for excellent research progress.

Dr Thema is a Fellow of the Nanosciences African Network (NanoAfnet), as well as National Coordinator of the UNESCO-Unisa Africa Chair in Nanosciences/Nanotechnology, Botswana Chapter. He is on the Editorial Board of the Nanomedicine and Nanotechnology Open Access (NNOA) journal. In addition, Dr Thema is the Botswana Representative in the African Network for Solar Energy (Ansole) and a Member of the Gandhi Inspired Student Exchange Programme Committee (UNISA).

Prof Shedden Masupe assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer of the Botswana Institute for Technology Research and Innovation (BITRI) with effect from 1st October 2017. Prof Masupe joined BITRI in 2014 as Executive Director – Technologies from BIUST. Prof Masupe graduated with a BSc in Mathematics and Physics from Mount Allison University, Canada, and a BSc Eng., Electrical Engineering (Communications and Fields) from University of New Brunswick, Canada. He also has an MSc in Electronics Engineering (Digital Systems) from Cardiff University, and a PhD in Electronics Engineering attained from Edinburgh University in the United Kingdom.

Prof Masupe is a highly driven and experienced executive with a sound track record acquired over 20 years leading academic and research teams towards fulfilment of corporate strategy objectives and organizational mandates and he also possesses strong competencies in the areas of Project Management, Research Leadership and other Support Services. Prof Masupe is a versatile ICT professional who has the ability to impact an organization through Cultural Change and Enterprise Architecture. His leadership pedigree is evidenced by strategic level participation in a number of executive committees of reputable technology and academic organizations such as BoFiNet, BUAN and UB. He has provided mentorship to professionals in the ICT field, lead research and teaching activities at UB as Head of Department of Electrical Engineering Department as well as Associate Dean of College of Engineering at BIUST.

As Executive Director – Technologies, Prof Masupe’s responsibilities included leading, managing, directing, coordinating and supervising all research and development undertaken by BITRI in the areas of Information Systems & Technologies, Energy, and Electronics & Communications as well as directing the support functions of Information & Technology and Design divisions.