Rudolf Elias obtained a master’s degree in business administration and civil engineering at Eindhoven University of Technology. He began his career at Ballast Nedam International, where he worked for twenty years on a wide range of construction projects. He subsequently served as Project Director and Vice President Development at BHP Billiton, leading major international projects and teams in Australia and Canada.

In 2009, he joined Staatsolie as Deputy Director Business Development. As Project Director of the refinery expansion project, he led the Engineering Project Team in Rome (Italy) and subsequently oversaw construction in Suriname. In 2015, he became CEO. Under his leadership, Staatsolie transformed from a centralized organization into an asset organization. During his tenure as CEO, six offshore oil and gas discoveries were made.

After retiring from Staatsolie in 2021, Elias joined Ernst & Young as an advisor on oil, gas and renewable energy. He currently focuses on raising awareness about the consequences of oil wealth and the risk of the resource curse.