Our team

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Alisher Abdykadyrov is the Chief Executive Officer of the Alatau City Authority special management organisation.

He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in economics from Lomonosov Moscow State University and has been awarded the state medal “Eren eñbegı úshın” (For Distinguished Labour). He brings more than 15 years of experience in public administration, investment policy and regional development. Over his career he has served as Deputy Chairman of the Investment Committee, Head of the Astana Investment and Entrepreneurship Development Department, Deputy Akim of the Karaganda Region, Vice Minister of National Economy and Deputy Akim of Almaty.

The Alatau City Authority is responsible for coordinating urban-development and investment projects, attracting private and international investors, introducing modern technology standards and international best practice in urban management, and ensuring the city operates under its special legal regime.

The supreme governing body of the fund is the Alatau City Development Council.

Deputy Chief Executive Officer

Nina Yang oversees urban development and the delivery of Alatau City's international projects.

She brings more than 30 years of international experience in urban planning, architecture, real-estate development and the delivery management of large-scale, integrated master-planned developments.

Before joining the Alatau City Authority, she held senior positions at CPG Corporation, Surbana Jurong and Ascendas-Singbridge. At Ascendas-Singbridge she served as Chief Executive Officer, managing the China integrated-development investment portfolio of Singapore's sovereign wealth fund Temasek. Under her leadership, many major projects were delivered across Singapore, China, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, including special economic zones, mixed-use urban districts, industrial parks, townships, and environmental and infrastructure projects.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts and Architecture from the National University of Singapore and a Master in Design Studies (Real Estate Finance and Urban Development) from Harvard University. She serves on the boards of Singapore public bodies, is an adjunct lecturer at the National University of Singapore and President of the Singapore Institute of Planners.

Deputy Chief Executive Officer - Chief Legal & Regulatory Officer

Arman Tastanbekov oversees the legal affairs of the Alatau City Authority, including the development of its regulatory framework and investment regulation.

He has more than 20 years of international legal practice. He has worked at leading international law firms Dewey & LeBoeuf, White & Case and Reed Smith, advising major international companies on investment, corporate governance and capital markets. He also served as a Management Board member and Chief Legal Officer of the Astana International Exchange (AIX) at the Astana International Financial Centre.

He graduated with honours from the Kazakh State Law University and earned a Master of Laws (LL.M) from American University Washington College of Law (USA). He is admitted to the New York State Bar, is a member of KazBar and an accredited legal adviser of the Astana International Financial Centre.

Deputy Chief Executive Officer - Chief Corporate Officer

Zoya Kasenova is responsible for corporate governance, organisational development and the effective operation of the Alatau City Authority.

She has more than 20 years of experience in corporate governance, the financial sector and quasi-public organisations. Throughout her career she has held senior positions in banking, at the Kazakhstan Housing Company and the Almaty Social-Entrepreneurship Corporation, where she oversaw corporate governance, organisational development and the delivery of strategic projects.

She graduated in Management from the T. Ryskulov Kazakh Economic University and in Law from the Taraz International Innovation Institute. She has many years of experience building corporate processes, managing change and delivering projects across the public and corporate sectors.

Deputy Chief Executive Officer - Chief Financial Officer

Aibek Botabekov oversees the financial and economic policy of the Alatau City Authority, including strategic financial planning, the development of investment mechanisms and a sustainable economic model for the city's growth.

He brings more than 25 years of professional experience in economics, finance, corporate governance and the delivery of major infrastructure projects. Over his career he held senior positions at the national power company KEGOC, where he oversaw economics, finance, tariff-setting and strategic development, and led projects implemented with the participation of international financial institutions.

He has extensive experience in the financial structuring of large-scale investment projects, the development of long-term growth strategies and the design of effective corporate-governance systems.

He graduated in International Economic Relations from the E.A. Buketov Karaganda State University and holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Nazarbayev University.

Chief Investment Officer

Carol Zhang oversees international investment cooperation, partnership development and the attraction of strategic investors to Alatau City.

She brings more than 15 years of international experience in investment development, strategic planning, sustainability, international communications and the delivery of major infrastructure projects.

Before joining the Alatau City Authority, she held leadership positions at CITIC Construction and Surbana Jurong, where she led international business development and special projects, working with public and private partners across more than 40 countries and 50 regions worldwide.

She studied international business, financial law and sustainable development at Tianjin Foreign Studies University and Singapore Management University.

Chief Digital & Artificial Intelligence Officer

Bayan Konirbayev oversees Alatau City's digital transformation, the development of artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure and Smart City technologies, and the introduction of innovative solutions into the city's governance system.

He brings substantial international experience in digital technology, artificial intelligence, telecommunications and the digital transformation of public administration.

He previously held senior positions at Tencent AI Lab, the national atomic company Kazatomprom, the Almaty City Administration (Akimat), National Information Technologies and Freedom Cloud. He is an expert in digital platforms, Smart City and artificial intelligence, and serves on boards of directors and international expert bodies in the digital-technology field.

He studied engineering, digital business, marketing and technology management at the Almaty University of Power Engineering and Telecommunications, Tsinghua University, the Swiss Business School and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He has been awarded the state medal “Eren eñbegı úshın” (For Distinguished Labour).

Acting Chief Development Officer (CDO)

Nurlan Nurgabylov oversees the integrated development of Alatau City, including the implementation of urban and engineering infrastructure projects, territorial development, and engagement with key stakeholders involved in the city’s development.

He has professional experience in both the public and private sectors, including land relations, legal affairs and the protection of state property interests. He worked at the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the National Bank of Kazakhstan. He also held senior positions at First Heartland Jusan Bank, ATF Bank and BTA Bank, where he was responsible for legal matters and asset recovery projects. Earlier in his career, he worked for international law and consulting firms, including Macleod Dixon LLP, Ernst & Young, and Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP.

From 2023 to 2024, he headed the Land Relations Department of the city of Almaty. In 2024, he was appointed Acting Head of the Public Spaces Development Department of the city of Almaty.

He graduated from Al-Farabi Kazakh National University with a degree in International Law. As a Bolashak scholarship recipient, he earned a Master of Laws degree from the University of Dundee, United Kingdom.

Our team

Leadership & Council

Alisher Abdykadyrov

Nina Yang

Arman Tastanbekov

Zoya Kasenova

Aibek Botabekov

Carol Zhang

Bayan Konirbayev

Nurlan Nurgabylov

Olzhas Bektenov

Kanat Bozumbayev

Wong Heang Fine

Madi Takiyev

Timur Suleimenov

Darkhan Satybaldy

Shyngys Arinov

Renat Bekturov

Vyacheslav Kim

Yuriy Tskhai

Bolat Zhamishev

Harry William Dobbs