Mr. Don Nissanka is a seasoned entrepreneur and business executive with more than 30 years of experience building and scaling companies across advanced manufacturing, energy, technology, defense, and strategic industrial sectors.
As Chief Executive Officer of Elite, he leads the company’s vision of establishing an integrated critical minerals platform that connects resource development, advanced processing, refining, and downstream manufacturing to support secure supply chains for the United States and allied nations.
Throughout his career, Mr. Nissanka has successfully commercialized emerging technologies, secured strategic partnerships, and raised significant public and private capital to support large-scale industrial ventures. His experience spans into advanced energy storage, aerospace and defense systems, renewable energy infrastructure, and the development of strategically important manufacturing asset base in the U.S. As an executive with Hawker Energy, later acquired and listed on the NYSE as EnerSys Inc., he led aerospace and defense initiatives supporting commercial aviation, U.S. and allied defense programs, tactical vehicle platforms, and critical naval applications, including the modernization of U.S. Navy nuclear submarine systems.
A recognized pioneer in advanced battery technologies. Mr. Nissanka was instrumental in developing one of the first fully automated lithium battery manufacturing facilities in the United States. He led the formation and capitalization of Kokam America, culminating in a strategic joint venture with Dow Chemical, accompany that secured substantial federal and state funding and achieved a valuation exceeding $1 billion. He later proceeded to develop advanced grid-scale energy storage systems, and acquired CODA Energy, a company capitalized by Fortress Investment Group, further strengthening his expertise in strategic manufacturing, supply chain development, and industrial project execution. Mr. Nissanka’s experience in securing government support, building advanced processing and manufacturing operations, negotiating international partnerships, and developing strategic supply chains directly supports Elite’s critical minerals strategy.
His leadership positions the company to advance resource development, processing, refining, and value-added manufacturing initiatives that strengthen domestic supply chain security while creating long-term value for shareholders and strategic partners.
