Aziz Iskakov
Senior Advisor, Central Asia
Aziz is a strategic consultant with 9+ years of experience in leading positions within government and private think tanks. He provides strategic counsel for clients on regulatory developments across Central Asia and the South Caucasus, while handling outreach and engagement projects with public authorities. Aziz is an economist by profession, with strong project management skills.
Prior to joining Aretera's Central Asian practice, Aziz worked at the Qazaqstan Institute of Social Studies where he conducted more than 30 socio-political analytical projects as an Executive Director. Beforehand, he held different positions at the Economic Research Institute, the Institute of Eurasian Integration and the Kazakhmys Mining Corporation. Aziz also headed the Project Office of the Ministry of Industrial and Infrastructural Development and participated as an expert in good governance, monitoring and evaluation issues on projects run by the EBRD, the World Bank, the UNDP and UNICEF in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
Aziz provided analytical support to the Administration of the President of Kazakhstan on the reform of the public administration and the introduction of electability of akims (heads of local administrations).
Aziz is a member of the Presidential youth cadre reserve of Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and the Director of the Youth Research Center under the Ministry of Information. He has participated in various development programs for analysts and advisers conducted by the OSCE, the JICA, Georgia State University, the Eurasia Foundation, Hertie School of Governance, the Soros Foundation and the UNDP’s Independent Evaluation Office.
Aziz is an Independent Director and Member of the Board of Directors at Margulan University, while previously he was a Member of the Board of Directors at Toraighyrov University. He is also a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Alumni Association of the Kazakh University of Economics (Narxoz University).
Prior to joining Aretera's Central Asian practice, Aziz worked at the Qazaqstan Institute of Social Studies where he conducted more than 30 socio-political analytical projects as an Executive Director. Beforehand, he held different positions at the Economic Research Institute, the Institute of Eurasian Integration and the Kazakhmys Mining Corporation. Aziz also headed the Project Office of the Ministry of Industrial and Infrastructural Development and participated as an expert in good governance, monitoring and evaluation issues on projects run by the EBRD, the World Bank, the UNDP and UNICEF in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
Aziz provided analytical support to the Administration of the President of Kazakhstan on the reform of the public administration and the introduction of electability of akims (heads of local administrations).
Aziz is a member of the Presidential youth cadre reserve of Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and the Director of the Youth Research Center under the Ministry of Information. He has participated in various development programs for analysts and advisers conducted by the OSCE, the JICA, Georgia State University, the Eurasia Foundation, Hertie School of Governance, the Soros Foundation and the UNDP’s Independent Evaluation Office.
Aziz is an Independent Director and Member of the Board of Directors at Margulan University, while previously he was a Member of the Board of Directors at Toraighyrov University. He is also a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Alumni Association of the Kazakh University of Economics (Narxoz University).