Harvard Kennedy School
Nurlan Kapparov Graduate Fellowship
Asset Abdualiyev - MC/MPA 2018
Asset worked as an advisor to the Mayor of Almaty on Innovation and Urban Development. In that capacity, Asset identified and supported more than 200 innovative projects and startups as a part of the first Smart-City project in Central Asia. He coordinated designing and commissioning of five major public spaces in Almaty. Before, he held leadership roles in the Organizing Committee of Almaty 2017 Winter Universiade, Nur Otan political party, Kazakh Government’s $100-million scholarship fund, and Administration of the President of Kazakhstan. Besides his professional experience, Asset initiated and led many community service projects such as the first TEDx event in Astana, the first collection of business cases, an international forum with the WEF Global Shapers Community.
Karlygash Zhunusova - MPA/ID 2020
Karlygash works as Head of Analytical Department at the Center for Statistical Surveys, Astana. She also works at strategic consulting company Dasco Consulting Group. A graduate with honors in Economics from the L.N. Gumilev’s Eurasian National University, Karlygash started her career at the Department of Strategy and Coordination at National Company KazMunayGas. Between 2016 and 2018 she served as Senior Consultant at the Center for Strategic Initiatives, Astana.
Nurken Urmantaev - MC/MPA 2022
Nurken worked in the system of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, held various positions in the embassies of Kazakhstan in the United States and in the Republic of Turkey. In 2005, he was called to serve in the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan for an officer position in the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Graduate of Ankara University majoring in International Relations.
Mirzhan Karakulov - MC/MPA 2022
Mirzhan has 16 years of experience in economics and finance in Kazakhstan and abroad. He started his career at Accept Agrokhim as a financial specialist, he went from a risk manager to a member of the board of commercial and quasi-state financial organizations. Managed the inspection division of the National Bank of Kazakhstan. He is currently advising the International Finance Corporation's Distressed Asset Recovery program in the African region. Mirzhan received an MA in Economic Development from Vanderbilt University (USA) and a BA with honors in Economics from KIMEP University.
Yernar Zharkeshov - MC/MPA 2023
Yernar led teams in the state structures of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the United Nations Development Program, Kazakhstani and foreign consulting companies, participated in the implementation of reforms in the field of public administration and public service, the transformation of organizations in the public sector in the Republic of Kazakhstan, the United Arab Emirates and the CIS countries. He holds a bachelor's degree with honors from the University of Birmingham, UK under the Bolashak program, a bachelor's degree in finance from the T. Ryskulov Kazakh University of Economics and a master's degree in public policy from the Lee Kuan Yew of the National University of Singapore (on a scholarship named after Lee Kuan Yew). He has a number of scientific publications, published a monograph (in co-authorship) “Kazakh memelekettiligi: tarihy, sayasi zhane akimshilik kurylymy, baskaru institutetary” (2016).
Dilrukh Sharipov - MC/MPA 2023
Dilrukh worked in various positions in the Ministry of National Economy of Kazakhstan, the Office of the Security Council of the Republic of Kazakhstan, held various positions in departments of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, including the managerial one. Before studying at Harvard University, he worked as a State Inspector of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Graduate with honors from the University of Nottingham on a Bolashak Scholarship and graduate of Imperial College London, UK.
Dana Masalimova – MC/MPA 2023
Dana worked in the Central Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the diplomatic missions of Kazakhstan in the USA and Great Britain. Before studying at Harvard University, she was Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the International Maritime Organization. Graduate of the University of Surrey, UK, under the Bolashak program. She became the owner of a scholarship back in 2020, but due to the global lockdown, she postponed her studies.