The Board of Trustees

Galimzhan Yessenov is the founder and creator of the Shakhmardan Yessenov Science and 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. Under Galimzhan’s leadership, the foundation has provided scholarships and grants to support talented Kazakh students in pursuing higher education, both in Kazakhstan and abroad. This initiative has played a vital role in nurturing the next generation of leaders and professionals in Kazakhstan.

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.

Yessim is an investor in a group of companies that focuses on local start-ups and business projects in various industries, providing support all the way from their kick-off and throughout the development process.  Aizhan is the initiator and founder of the International Almaty Marathon (a full member of AIMS) and several other mass participatory sports events.

Aizhan holds a bachelor’s in International Business and Marketing from the EU Business School, a master’s in Marketing Communications from University of Westminster, and a master’s in International Dialogue in the Context of Globalization from the Sorbonne-Kazakhstan Institute. She is also a graduate of the Abai National Pedagogical University’s program on international relations.

Doctor of economics, professor. He has a considerable experience working in state authorities and financial sector. He worked as a Deputy Head of the Council of Economic Advisers under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, First Deputy Minister of Economy, Chairman of the National Agency for Foreign Investments, Vice-Chairman of the National Bank, and Deputy Minister of Finance.

He is the author of well-known books such as The Socio-Economic Efficiency of Social Production Amidst Intensification, Alma-Ata (1985), The Effectiveness of Social Production, Moscow (1987), National Capital, Almaty (2010), etc. Serik Akhmetzhanovich is also the author of more than 100 scientific publications on macroeconomics and finance. More information about the work and biography can be found at the following links in Russian: Wiki and Academic.

Senior Software Engineer at EPAM Türkiye, Senior Engineer and Founder of POWR’s office in Kazakhstan (2019–2025). In 2008, she graduated from Satbayev Kazakh National Research Technical University with a degree in Information Security. In 2010, she earned a Master’s degree in Information Technology Management from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. In 2013, she completed a Mini MBA program at Pittsburg State University (USA).

From 2011 to 2016, she worked as a Lead IT Manager and Engineer in the fintech sector (ForteBank, Home Credit Bank). She was awarded the Bolashak scholarship and, in 2016, emerged as the winner of the “Internships in IT startups in USA” program.

A technology leader, serial entrepreneur, and applied mathematics expert with
extensive experience in developing and bringing complex AI-based products to
market.
Eldar is the founder of MOCAP Analytics, an innovative startup at the intersection
of AI and sports analytics, which was acquired by Sportradar in 2017. He has
significant experience in numerous venture-backed projects, where he led the
development and commercialization of advanced technological solutions,
successfully transforming scientific research into scalable market products.
Education:
PhD, California Institute of Technology (Caltech).
MS, BS – Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT).