The overview of oil and gas specialists

On May 15, our country celebrates the Day of the Kazakh PR Specialist. On the eve of the professional holiday, we present to readers an overview of oil and gas specialists whose powers include reputation and communications management in large oil&gas and oilfield service companies and associations.

Thanks to their professional contribution, the information agenda in the industry is formed, a positive image of the company is ensured, information attacks are repelled, and they themselves remain in the shadows in the position of “fighters of the invisible front”.

We congratulate all PR specialists of the oil&gas industry on their professional holiday and wish further success in difficult, but necessary and important work!

Shyngys Ilyasov – Advisor to the Minister of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan

He graduated from the Kazakh-Russian International University and the European University. He began his professional career in the press service of the Akimat of the Aktobe region, was the chief expert in the Central Communications Service. He headed a department in the Ministry of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan. He was an employee, and then Public Relations and Internal Communications Department Director of KazTransOil JSC.

Ruslan Imankulov – Head of the Press Service of JSC NC KazMunayGas

He is a graduate of the Taraz State Pedagogical Institute. He began his career as a specialist in the Department of Emergency Situations of the Zhambyl region. He worked in senior positions in media relations in organizations with state participation.

He served as the official representative of the Committee for Emergency Situations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, where in 2016 he was recognized as the most promptly working press secretary in Kazakhstan. In 2017, he was the winner in the Professional Recognition category according to the results of the Best Press Service competition.

Maksat Tulegenov – Head of the Press Service of JSC NC QazaqGas

Prior to his appointment at QazaqGas, Maksat headed the press service of the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan, worked as a press secretary of the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan and held a position in the PR department of the Astana International Financial Center. With the arrival of new management in QazaqGas after the January events, the National Company has set itself strategic tasks to strengthen public relations, increase the openness and transparency of its activities.

Yerkin Zikibaev, Director of Corporate Affairs, Chevron

After graduating from Kazakh State University in 1985, he worked at the Faculty of Journalism, then in the system of the KazTAG-TASS news agency as a correspondent, editor, senior editor, deputy editor-in-chief of foreign information editorial office.

From 1990 to 1992, he was Deputy Head of the Information Department (Press Service) of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Kazakhstan. From 1992 to 1996, he worked in the Information Section of the U.S. Embassy, from 1996 to 1997 as a Press Relations Specialist for Chevron, and from 1997 to 1999 as the Head of Government and Public Relations at Hurricane Hydrocarbons. In 1999-2000, he headed the press service of KazTransOil. In 2000-2001, he headed the corporate relations department at Japan Tobacco International. From 2001 to the present, he has been working at the headquarters of the Eurasian division of Chevron Corporation.

Daniyar Salimbayev – Director of Corporate Affairs of TotalEnergies EP Kazakhstan

He graduated Karaganda State University. Under the Bolashak program, he studied at Vanderbilt University, TN, USA.

He began his professional career in 2001 in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan. From 2004 to 2006, he worked in the Corporate Development Department of NC KazMunayGas JSC. Over the years, he held senior positions in the Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Kazakhstan, was the Director of the Department of Strategic Planning and Development of Transport and Communication Industries. In 2009, he moved to the Department of Social and Economic Monitoring of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

From 2011 to the present, he has been the Director of Corporate Affairs at TotalEnergies EP Kazakhstan, overseeing government relations, communications, social responsibility, ESG and sustainable development.

Assel Ibrayeva – Corporate Advisor, Shell Kazakhstan

Master of Economics of the Kokshetau Institute of Economics and Management, Bachelor of the Faculty of Foreign Languages of Kokshetau State University.

Professional PR specialist with 20 years of experience in the oil and gas sector. During her career, Assel held various positions at BG Kazakhstan before becoming Shell Kazakhstan’s Government, Public Affairs and Internal Communications Advisor in 2016.

She is responsible for the development of the company’s reputation strategy in Kazakhstan, relations with government agencies, the public and the media, as well as external, internal and anti-crisis communications.

She has many professional certificates in the field of PR, including from CIPR in London.

Sayan Sharapiev – Government and Public Relations Manager, LUKOIL

He graduated from the University of International Relations and World Languages, as well as the International School of Communication (Dubai). He began his professional career as a public relations specialist at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan. At various times, he worked as a press secretary at the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Lithuania, in Italy, as a public relations secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan. He was Head of Financial Institutions at Alliance Bank and Business Development Manager at DavisLangdon & Seah.

Nadezhda Avdeeva – External Relations Specialist at Eni Kazakhstan

She received a master’s degree from Kazakh State Law University and the University of Bologna (Italy). She has experience in the field of PR and communications, as well as conducting image projects in Kazakhstani and international companies.

Akmaral Sabirova – Public Relations Advisor, ExxonMobil

She is a graduate of the Institute of International Relations, as well as the Kazakh State Academy of Architecture and Civil Engineering. Previously, she held positions at ExxonMobil as a Government Engagement Analyst and Public Relations Advisor.

Meruert Palmakhanova – Director of the Public Relations and Internal Communications Department of KazTransOil JSC

Previously, she worked in the Chamber of Entrepreneurs of Astana, headed the press service of the akimat of the Akmola region, was a correspondent for the Khabar agency, and an editor at the Kazakhstan-Kyzylorda TV channel.

Raushan Naizabayeva – Media Relations Advisor, Tengizchevroil LLP

She holds a Master of Science in Publishing (New York University, USA), a Bachelor of Business Administration (Turan University, Kazakhstan) and a Bachelor of Journalism (Kazakh National University).

She was the head of the information and advertising service of KazMunayGas Onimderi JSC (Astana), was an assistant event manager at Helen & Martin Kimmel Center (New York), head of the PR department at BI Group JSC (Astana), project manager at BTA Bank (Almaty), correspondent of the National Business magazine (Almaty), senior editor of Mangistau Regional Branch of the Republican Television and Radio Corporation “Kazakhstan” (Aktau).

Akerke Akhmetova – General Manager for Government Relations and Communications, NCOC

She graduated from the Kokshetau Pedagogical Institute named after Sh. Ualikhanov, Karaganda State University named after E. Buketov, the Public Administration Academy under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the University of Sheffield, UK under the Bolashak program. She began her career in 1991. Over the years, she worked in the commercial sector.

Since 2000, she has been in the structure of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan, where she held the positions of chief specialist, head of the department for the examination of draft international treaties, deputy director of the department. From 2015 to 2017, she was Director of the Department of International Law and Cooperation. From 2018 to 2019, she was Director of the Department for the Protection of State Property Rights. From 2019 to 2023, she was Vice Minister of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Dauren Kulzhanov – Public Relations Manager at KPO

He has two higher educations: philological and economic and is professional with more than 10 years of experience in the oil and gas industry.

He worked in various positions in companies at the Tengiz field on SGI/SGP projects, as well as on the ALSCON plant launch project in Nigeria.

Since 2014, he has held the positions of Internal Communications Specialist, Print Products Specialist, Media Relations Specialist, and Corporate Communications Advisor at various times at Karachaganak Petroleum Operating B.V. 

In 2014, he opened, implemented and began to coordinate the company’s social networks, subsequently led the work on updating the interface of the KRO website and its translation into the state language. He also introduced a requirement to increase the use of the state language in the company.

He is in the position of Public Relations Manager since 2021.

Aina Zadabek – Chief Public Relations and Media Specialist, CPC-K

She is engaged in media relations, government relations and the implementation of charitable projects of the cimpany. She has diplomas in journalism, law, philosophy.

Aina began her professional career on the republican TV channels as a journalist, program host and producer of analytical programs.

Over the years, she represented the PR service of KTZ Express JSC, Airport Management Group LLP, headed the capital representative office of the Kazakhstan Press Club.

She is a member of the jury of student competitions at ENU, Television and Public Relations Faculty.

She is a researcher of cross-cultural communications, the cultural code of the Kazakhs, founder of the Academy for Teaching the Kazakh Language. According to the author’s methodology, Aina teaches top managers and public figures to speak the Kazakh language fluently.

Vice President of Kazakhstan PR Professionals Club (2020-2022), member of the GR HUB professional community, coach (FIA), mentor.

Mukhit Ykylas – Director of the Public Relations and Integrated Management System Department of KazTransGas Aimak JSC

He graduated from the Almaty Institute of International Journalism (journalist), D.A. Kunayev University (lawyer), master’s and doctoral studies at the L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University (political scientist).

He began his career as an editor, presenter of the news service of Almaty Television ATV-ATD JSC. For more than 20 years, he worked at various country’ TV channels: deputy editor-in-chief, editor-in-chief, director of TV broadcasting in the state language, first deputy director for broadcasting. He was also a producer of the Madeniet TV channel of the Kazakhstan Republican Television and Radio Corporation, the Kazakhstan National TV Channel and the Bilim zhane Madeniyet TV channel of Khabar Agency JSC.

Over the years, he worked in the press service of Samruk Holding JSC, in the information and analytical center of Rauan Media Group LLP of NC KazMunayGas JSC.

In 2024, the department headed by Mukhit received the Kazakh Ak Mergen Award as the Best PR Promotion Press Service.

Makhabbat Dzhailganova – Director of Strategic Communications at AF PetroKazakhstan Overseas Services Inc.

She has an MBA degree from the Moscow Higher School of Business and UIB, as well as a diploma from the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (London, UK). She is engaged in the development and implementation of the image policy and reputation management of the PetroKazakhstan group of companies, the implementation of a unified strategy of all business units of the company (PKKR, PKOP, PKOSI) in communications with the company’s stakeholders.

Galiya Karazhanova – Head of Public Relations Group, Embamunaigas JSC

She graduate of the Faculty of Journalism of Kazakh State University. She began her career as a methodologist, worked as a history teacher, deputy director of the school; chief specialist in the administration of the district, Pavlodar region. Since 2002, she has been an editor of the Atyrau regional radio station “Caspiy”, an editor-correspondent of the Atyrau television, a correspondent of the newspaper “Munaily Meken” in the Atyrau region. Since 2012, she has been the press secretary of Embamunaigas JSC, and since 2022 to this day, she has been in charge of the public relations group.  

She is a winner of the Tauman Amandosov Prize “Journalist of the Year” (2004).

Assel Tokai – Chief Specialist in the Government Relations and PR Service of KMG PetroChem LLP

Assel has more than 25 years of experience in the media and press services of government agencies, in particular, Khabar Agency, Channel Seven, and press services of a number of ministries.

At KMG PetroChem LLP, she is responsible for public relations, focusing on informing the target audience about the development of the petrochemical industry in Kazakhstan.

The Company implements projects in the field of petrochemicals, including construction of a polyethylene plant and a gas separation complex, trunk pipelines, as well as the development of promising projects such as TPA/PET and urea.

Anna Gronskaya – Head of Public Relations Department, Pavlodar Oil Chemistry Refinery LLP

For 18 years of work as an editor of the corporate publication of POCR and a PR specialist of this industrial giant, Anna has become an expert on the history of oil refining industry, having published three books (as an author and co-author) on the formation of the Pavlodar Petrochemical Plant and the petrochemical industry of Kazakhstan as a whole.

A video project about the Pavlodar Petrochemical Plant “POCR-2017: A Year of Big Changes”, filmed under the leadership of Anna Gronskaya, became the winner of the All-Russian Competition of Corporate Media “Media Leader-2017” in the nomination “Best Corporate Film”.

Since 2018, she is the President of the Corporate Media’ Club of Samruk-Kazyna JSC, which unites 18 corporate publications of the group of companies.

Shynar Kakimzhanova – Head of the Press Service of Atyrau Refinery LLP

She graduated from the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, as well as the Kazakh State Law University. She began her professional career as an internal communications specialist at the Atyrau Refinery. Since 2015, she has worked as a specialist, a leading specialist in public relations, since 2022 – the head of the press service.

Indira Aralbayeva – Acting Head of Public Relations at PKOP (Shymkent Oil Refinery)

She jointed PKOP during modernization project. Prior to that, she worked at the Shymkent Cement Plant, where she worked as the head of HR department. She collaborates with SK News magazine.

Altynai Serikbay – press secretary of Kazakhstan Petrochemical Industries Inc.

She graduated from Atyrau State University. She worked as a leading editor of the Kazakhstan-Atyrau TV channel, Tandem radio, project manager of the MediaNet International Center for Journalism, editor-in-chief of the Zhas Atyrau website, specialist of the organizational department of the Atyrau State Park (retro park), journalist-editor of the Caspian news TV channel.

Author of a social project aimed at a useful pastime (yoga, English courses, etc.) for people aged 45-65 years “Never Too Late”. She is the author of the podcast aimed at the equality of Birdeimiz, as well as the author and organizer of the regional photo and video contest-exhibition “Atyrau live”. Co-author and co-organizer of the Talkylaw project. Co-organizer of the Republican Youth Forum SaraishygUpgrade and the Forum “Republican Block Kuryltai-2017”.

Anna Titenok – Leading Public Relations Specialist, JV Kazgermunai LLP

She is a graduate of the Kyzylorda University named after Korkyt Ata. She worked at CNPC – Ai Dan Munai JSC and PetroKazakhstan.

Esnazar Sultanov – Leading Specialist of the Public Relations Department of Mangistaumunaigas JSC

Previously, he worked as a correspondent for the Mangistau region from the republican newspapers “Vremya” and “Kazakhstanskaya Pravda”, as well as a correspondent for the Aktau newspaper “Tumba” and the Kazakhstan-Aktau TV channel. In 2008, he was recognized as the best journalist of the Mangystau region.

Dinara Arkharova – Leading Specialist of the Administrative Support and Social Support Service of KMG Engineering LLP

She graduated from the L.N. Gumilyov ENU with a degree in journalism. Professional experience – more than 20 years.

Over the years, she worked as a journalist and correspondent in the republican, regional and industry media, including the newspaper “Liter”, “Zheleznodorozhnik Kazakhstana”, portals Zakon.kz, IA “KazTuday”, “Grains & Oilseeds. Kazakhstan”, “Akmolinskaya Pravda”, worked as a PR specialist in the PR agency “Prime Strategy”, Maqsut Narikbayev University, JSC “Center for International Programs “Bolashak”, public relations manager at JSC “National Center for the Development of Transport Logistics” under the Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Kazakhstan, editor of the Astana city’ akim blog.

Aitzhan Shokanov – Leading Specialist of the Government Relations and Media Relations Division of the Industrial Relations (IR) Department of the Representative Office of JSC NC KazMunayGas in Aktau

He is a graduate of the Caspian State University of Technology and Engineering named after Sh. Yessenov. Over the years, he worked in the Youth Congress of the Mangystau Region CF, Zhas Otan MC under the Nur Otan Party, Kazakhstan Caspian Offshore Industries LLP. Since 2018, he has been specializing in public and media relations.

Abay Tuzelbay – Press Secretary of Karazhanbasmunai JSC

He is a graduate of the Faculty of Journalism of the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. He began his career in 2011 at the Aktau city radio. He worked as a journalist-editor, news presenter on the Mangistau TV channel, a journalist of the Review program on NTK, a scriptwriter of the Zhana Kun project on the Khabar TV channel, an announcer in the Kyzyk Eken project of the Kazakhstan TV channel, as well as an announcer and journalist in the projects of Channel 7 and Kazakh TV. Member of the Union of Journalists of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Tatyana Prikhodko – Director of the PR Service of the PetroMining NMV Association

Tatyana has 11 years of experience in industrial marketing and PR, as well as in the creation of specialized media. She graduated from Executive MBA.

The young PetroMining Association has brought together 50% of independent oil producing and refining enterprises in a year; and with the help of PR actively broadcasts their achievements and needs to the government and the business community. The association’s PR team has implemented several important projects: it launched the program “On Rotation”, which shows the internal operational world, and also began filming YouTube dialogues with the best geologists in the country. In partnership with Naft@kz and Petrocouncil.kz, the Monthly Petroleum Bulletin was launched, which contains valuable and relevant information for decision-making. 

Arai Baitenova – Head of Public Relations at NSS Ltd

She received her higher education at the Kokshetau University named after Abay Myrzakhmetov. She began her professional career at the Association of Youth of the Akmola Region in Kokshetau. She was the deputy head of the Association of Legal Entities “Congress of Youth of Kazakhstan”.

Kunzhamilya Sahain – PR manager of Bolashak-Atyrau

She has been working in the oil and gas industry for more than 8 years. She began her career as a junior architect, improving her professional level to the project chief architect in Almaty.

She has experience in advertising and promotion. Since 2016, he has been working at the Bolashak Group, having worked her way up from PR coordinator to PR manager.

During Kunzhamilya’s work, a number of successful media projects were organized and carried out, which attracted wide attention of the audience, significantly strengthened the company’s reputation and influenced a positive change in both the external and internal PR process in the company.