Zulfiya Suleimenova

On September 21, 2023, by the Presidential Order Ms Suleimenova was appointed Advisor to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan – Special Representative of the President on International Environmental Cooperation.

Ms Suleimenova started her career in 2013. In 2014-2015 she was a researcher in the Department of Foreign Policy and International Security at the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan (KISI). In 2015-2019, Ms Suleimenova worked at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific with the Environment and Development Division, the Energy Division, the Macroeconomic Policy and Development Finance Division (Bangkok, Thailand), in the UN Development Program in Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan, as well as the UNESCAP Environment and Development Division.

In 2020-2021 Zulfiya was appointed Deputy Director of the Department of Climate Policy and Green Technologies of the Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In 2021-2022  – Deputy of the Majilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, member of the Committee on International Affairs, Defense and Security. From March 2022 to January 2023 — Vice-Minister of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan. From January 4 to September 1, 2023 – Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Education: Zulfiya graduated from the Gumilev Eurasian National University, majoring in International Relations. She is also a graduate of the Tokyo-based National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies in the Security and International Studies program.

Zulfiya holds a Ph.D. and is a member of the Presidential Youth Talent Pool, an initiative spearheaded by Tokayev to offer young people a meritocracy-based social elevator in their careers.