Dr Elema is the Director of the Centre for Collaboration in Africa (CCA) at Stellenbosch University, South Africa, where he manages a team of internationalisation practitioners to create an enabling environment for Stellenbosch University to partner and engage with various partners across the continent. Responsibilities in the centre include the administration of the Africa Collaboration Grant associated with the bilateral partners and the administration of various Intra-Africa mobility programmes. Moreover, the CCA host the secretariats of the AUDA-NEPAD Southern African Network of Water Centres of Excellence (AUDA-NEPAD SANWATCE), the AUDA-NEPAD Centre of Excellence in Science, Technology & Innovation (AUDA-NEPAD CoE in STI), and the Partner Enhancing Resilience for People Exposed to Risks (PERIPERI U). The CCA also support the secretariat of the African Research Universities Alliance CoE in Energy and host of the Stellenbosch University SDG/2063 Impact Hub.

Over the years, he has gained extensive experience in the African higher education sector and has been working with various partners on project implementation, project evaluation and multi-lateral partner programmes that focus on thematic fields which include water and sanitation,  Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Science, Technology & Innovation (STI).

His education includes a Master in Business Administration (MBA) and a PhD in Science and Technology Studies at Stellenbosch University, South Africa.