Shakhmardan Yessenov Foundation - About us - Galimzhan Yessenov

Galimzhan Yessenov

Galimzhan Yessenov is the founder and creator of the Shakhmardan Yessenov Science & Education Foundation, continuing the legacy of his grandfather, the Kazakh scientist and political figure after whom the Foundation is named.

In 2013, Galimzhan established the Shakhmardan Yessenov Foundation to promote education and science in Kazakhstan.The foundation has provided scholarships and grants to support talented Kazakh students in pursuing higher education, both in Kazakhstan and abroad.

Galimzhan Yessenov has business interests in several sectors including banking and telecommunications. As Chair of Jusan Bank, he leads one of Kazakhstan’s foremost financial institutions. He is also a major shareholder of Kcell JSC, the leading mobile operator in Kazakhstan. In 2023, he was named one of Kazakhstan’s 50 most influential businessmen by Forbes Kazakhstan.

He graduated from the Academy of Economics and Management of the Eurasian Institute of Market with a degree in Economics and Management, the Kazakh Humanities and Law Institute with a degree in Law and the Executive MBA program of The University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Additionally, he is:

  • Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Courage to Be First Corporate Foundation, which is best known as the organiser of Central Asia’s biggest mass sporting event, the Almaty Marathon.
  • Co-founder and member of the Board of Trustees of the Almaty Triathlon Federation
  • Former Vice President of the Kazakhstan Triathlon Federation (from 07.10.2017 to 08.07.2022), Chair of the Almaty Triathlon Federation (from 07.11.2017 to 01.07.2022), President of the Central Asian Triathlon Association (from 03.03.2019 to 04.07.2022), and ASTC Executive Board Member (from 19.06.2019 to 24.03.2023).
  • Former President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation (from 04.07.2015 to 31.01.2020).
  • Former President of the Association of United MMA Federations of Kazakhstan and the Kazakh National Public Union of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Federation (from 24.12.2018 to 01.03.2020), and a member of IMMAF-WMMAA Executive board (from 04.07.2019 to 11.04.2019).
  • Recipient of the Order of Kurmet (2018).

Aside from his work with the foundation, Galimzhan also contributes to the patronage of Ana Uyi (Mother’s House), a foundation that works to reduce the number of children being abandoned and placed in orphanages.