At the helm of the Board of ELICO Foundation is Professor Evelyne Isack Mbede, a pioneering scientist, accomplished academic, and nationally respected leader whose career has helped shape Tanzania’s scientific, educational, and policy landscape.
Prof. Mbede brings to ELICO Foundation decades of leadership, research excellence, and public service.
As Chairperson of the Board, she provides strategic oversight and guidance, helping steer the foundation’s mission of advancing clean energy access, climate smart solutions, and sustainable livelihoods for communities across Tanzania.
Her leadership is rooted in a remarkable career defined by breaking barriers and creating opportunities for future generations.
A scholar of many firsts, Prof. Mbede is recognized as Tanzania’s first woman to earn a PhD in Earth Sciences, the first female professor in the field, and the first woman to serve as Dean of the Faculty of Science now the College of Natural and Applied Sciences at University of Dar es Salaam.
Her academic journey began at the University of Dar es Salaam, where she graduated with a First Class Bachelor of Science in Geology in 1982.She later pursued a Master’s degree in Petroleum Geology at Imperial College London before earning her PhD in Earth Sciences from Technical University of Berlin in 1993.
Over a distinguished career spanning decades, Prof. Mbede has published more than 50 peer-reviewed scientific papers, contributing significantly to research in geology, petroleum systems, tectonics, and natural hazard assessment.
Her work has not only advanced scientific knowledge but has also contributed to disaster risk reduction and national resilience.
Beyond academia, Prof. Mbede has played a critical role in shaping Tanzania’s science and innovation agenda.
She served as Director of Science, Technology and Innovation in the Government of Tanzania for ten years, where she championed policies aimed at strengthening research, innovation, and scientific development.
Her influence extends beyond national borders. She has served on the governing board of the International Atomic Energy Agency and currently contributes to Tanzania’s energy sector as a board member of the Petroleum Upstream Regulatory Authority.
In 2026, her extraordinary contributions were nationally recognized when she was named Phenomenal Woman of the Year at the Pre-International Women’s Day Awards 2026 an honor celebrating women whose leadership, service, and impact are shaping Tanzania’s future.
Colleagues, students, and partners describe Prof. Mbede not only as an exceptional scientist, but also as a mentor, institution builder, and visionary leader who has trained and inspired generations of geoscientists, researchers, and professionals across academia, industry, and government.
At ELICO Foundation, her leadership continues to strengthen the organization’s governance and strategic direction, ensuring that innovation, evidence, and community-centered impact remain at the heart of its work.
