Dr. Habtamu holds a BSc (1999) and MSc (2006) in Irrigation Engineering from Arba Minch University, Ethiopia, and earned his PhD in Hydraulic Engineering from Stuttgart University, Germany, in 2011.

His early career started in practice at the Benishangul-Gumuz Regional Water Bureau. He then joined academia, lecturing at Arba Minch University, and later at Addis Ababa Science and Technology University. He has served in leadership roles there, including dean and vice president.

Before his ministerial role, he held several high-level regional government positions: Deputy Head of Urban and Housing Bureau of Oromia Region (2016-2017); Director-General of the Oromia Region Road Authority (2017-2019); and Head of Oromia Region Water & Energy Resource Development Bureau (from 2019 until his appointment as minister).

As Minister, Dr. Eng. Habtamu Itefa oversees Ethiopia’s development, management, and sustainable use of water and energy resources, with responsibilities including water supply and sanitation, integrated water resource management, and renewable energy development.