Position: Chief Executive Officer
Dr Sebubang Enele Sebusang has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Botswana Institute for Technology Research and Innovation (BITRI) effective 1 February 2026, bringing extensive leadership, academic, and innovation expertise to Botswana’s premier research and development institution.
Dr Sebusang is an experienced executive, consultant, project manager, community leader, and company director with over 20 years of leadership experience spanning academic, corporate, and non-government sectors. He has held senior positions in academic governance as a member of the University of Botswana Senate and led complex development initiatives, including serving as Sesigo Project Director at African Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Partnerships (ACHAP), where he oversaw key public health programmes. He has also served as director on the boards of major organisations such as Mmegi, MIMS Consulting, the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA), and the Engineers Registration Board.
Dr Sebusang’s leadership philosophy guides his drive to apply technology research to real economic and social challenges in Botswana. He previously served at BITRI as Executive Director – Technologies, where he advanced the institute’s applied research agenda in transforming needs-based research into practical, locally relevant technology solutions addressing key national priorities.
As Chief Executive Officer, Dr Sebusang sees the future of BITRI driven along three forks: a solutions provider, a digitalisation agent undergirded by an efficient operator. The positioning as a solutions provider is deliberate, and a departure from current practice where research and development (R&D) often has scant regard for consumer demand. BITRI will increase conduct research that is commissioned, thus offering technology solutions to user needs and problems. This is only possible through building strong partnerships from the state and industry, and sectorally from agriculture to mining, manufacturing to energy and beyond. Given the inefficient nature of our services and operations as a country, BITRI will deepen its role as the developer of core digitalisation platforms for the state, allowing for data aggregation and ultimately helping inform decision-making through data analytics.
To do the above and do them well, BITRI is on course to become a super-efficient institution, tapping into the collective talents of its employees to provide accredited analytical services and drive towards being an ISO-certified Quality Management Services organisation.
Dr Sebusang’s academic credentials underscore his technical and strategic depth: he holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Southampton (UK), a PhD in Systems and Control Engineering from the University of Bristol (UK), and an MBA from the University of Botswana. His blended expertise in engineering, systems thinking, and business management positions him ideally to lead BITRI as it expands its mandate to develop sustainable, home-grown innovations that drive national economic growth. Under his leadership, BITRI will aim to develop technologies and partnerships that translate research into real-world impact, collaborating with industry, government, and community stakeholders to address strategic national challenges through innovation.