Team

United by a passion for clean energy and climate change, our team consists of world-class innovators, creators, and industry experts.

Our Founders

Dr. Sheeba Dawood

Chief Executive officer/ Co-Founder

Sheeba Dawood, CEO of Minerva Lithium, has over five years of experience in the lithium industry. She has been recognized as a top CEO in the mineral sector and was honored as one of TBJ’s 40 Under 40 in 2024. Additionally, the Mayor and City Council of Greensboro passed a resolution in 2022 recognizing her exceptional contributions to business.

She obtained her Ph.D. in Nanoscience at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG). She is a material science researcher and expert in developing environmentally benign coordination polymer frameworks for environmental remediation and critical materials extraction.

Dr. Hemali Rathnayake

CO-Founder & Member
Dr. Hemali Rathnayake is the scientific advisor and co-founder of Minerva Lithium LLC. Rathnayake is an Associate Professor of Nanoscience from the JSNN at UNCG. Dr. Rathnayake is a recognized specialist in the synthesis of organic and polymeric materials, and functionalized nanostructures as well as in device fabrication for optoelectronics. Throughout her career, Dr. Rathnayake has worked with electrical engineers, materials scientists, chemists, entrepreneurs and start-up companies.

ADVISORY BOARD

Financial Advisor

Jan Davis

Business advisor

Vikram Rao