Top 20 HR Leaders in Oil&Gas 2023

Petrocouncil.kz, on the eve of the industry forum ‘PetroHR 2023’ which will bring together key market players in Atyrau on June 16th, presents the 2nd Review ‘TOP 20 HR Leaders in the Oil and Gas Industry of Kazakhstan 2023’.

The Review includes HR leaders of major oil and gas operators, international oil and gas TNCs, oilfield service companies and universities.

Bio of the nominees you can find:

Kamshat Baizhanova, TCO Human Resources General Manager

Kamshat has 18 years of experience in the oil and gas industry from HR Specialist to HR General Manager. She gained strong project management skills (transformational and anti-crisis management) and strategic thinking.

Kamshat graduated from Atyrau State University, as well as KBTU, where she received a master’s degree in HR management. In addition, she received an Executive MBA from the Swiss School of Business and Management.

She began her career as a recruiting specialist at KisOrion where she grew up to the branch manager. From 2009 to 2019, she worked at NCOC where she held various leadership positions in the field of human resources management. Since 2019, She is General Manager of TCO Human Resources Management.

During the pandemic crisis in 2020, she was involved in the complex process of demobilization on the FGP project as well as labor management on the Tengiz project including the FGP project.

Kamshat’s vision for the current and near future of HR trends is to train new leaders, create a diverse and inclusive corporate culture based on new ways of working and digital progress.

Murat Mukashev, NCOC Human Resources Director

Murat graduated from Moscow State University in 1989, as well as Georgetown University, ESADE Business School.

He began his career as a junior engineer in the laboratory of optoelectronics of KazGU. Further, he worked as a leading specialist of the foreign relations department of Kazakhstanmunaigas (1991-1993); chief specialist of “Munaigas” (1993-1994), head of the personnel department of JSC “CCS” (1994-1998); Business Development Advisor, MobilOilKazakhstan LLP (1998-2000); Head of the Kazakhstani Business Development Department at Agip KCO (2000-2003); chief engineer of the department of regional projects “Agip KCO” (2003-2004); Deputy General Director for Development of TenizService LLP (2004-2005); TCO HR General Manager (2005-2009); NCOC director of corporate services (2009-2014); Deputy General Director for Development of KMG Systems & Services LLP (2015-02.2016); Deputy General Director of KazTransOil JSC (22.02.2016-04.2017); Deputy General Director of TCO (from 05.2017-2020).

Awarded with various awards and diplomas. While working at TCO as a Chief HR Manager he made a great contribution to the development of Kazakhstani personnel, increasing competencies and developing human potential.

Slushash Izbasarova, KPO Human Resources Controller

Slushash has been working in the oil and gas industry for over 20 years. She worked for NCOC for about 13 years. She began her career as a training specialist at Agip KCO/NCOC where she rose to the position of labor relations manager. She has been working for Shell for more than 5 years and is currently one of the key HR leaders at KPO.

Gulzhannat Uderbayeva, Deputy Managing Director of TotalDunga

Gulzhannat graduated from Aktobe University named after Zhubanov, in 2007 she graduated from KazGUU with a degree in law. She has been working on the Dunga project since 2014. She has experience in human resources management (about 20 years) in such companies as Worley Parsons, Flour Daniel, Baker Hughes, Maersk Oil Kazakhstan. From 2020-2022, she worked as the Director of the Human Resources Department. From 2022-2023, she worked as the General Secretary (Corporate Director) at TotalDunga where she also managed the operations of the HR department. Since June 2023 Deputy Managing Director of TotalDunga.

During the work of Gulzhannat, she supported to introduce the best practices of human resources management and development of Kazakhstani personnel in the company. TotalDunga is one of the leaders in attracting Kazakhstani personnel to leadership positions.

Botagoz Ashirbekova, Deputy General Director for Human Resources and Social Affairs of JV KazGerMunai LLP

Botagoz graduated from Kazan State University in 1991 with a degree in sociology/ In 2003 she was awarded the degree of candidate of sociological sciences. In 2013 she graduated from the Russian Academy of National Economy and Public Administration under the President of the Russian Federation.

Since 2008, Botagoz started her career in the oil and gas industry, where she was invited to “Oil Company” KOR ” to chair human management department, from 2009 to 2010 she worked in Turgai-Petroleum in a similar position. In 2010, she was appointed to the position of Director of the Human Resources Management Department of Mangistaumunaigas. From 2011 to 2015, she worked at KMG E&P JSC as Director of the Department for Personnel Management and Development and then as Managing Director for Personnel Management and Development. From 2019 to 2022, she worked at KMG as the Director of the Human Resources Management Department. From September 2022 to the present, he has been working as Deputy General Director for HR and Social Affairs of Kazgermunai.

Raihan Abdrasilova, Deputy General Director for Human Resources, CNPC International Kazakhstan

Raihan graduated from Robert Gordon University (PhD program), UK, and SAIT (South Alberta Technology University), Canada. In addition, she studied IT management at Moscow State University and KazNU at the Faculty of Applied Mathematics. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree.

She began her career as an IT specialist as well as in the higher education and science as a researcher and teacher. She worked in the international project “TEMPUS” of the European Union in the field of IT, in JSC “Petro Kazakhstan” as a senior manager for labor management and a regional manager in the Kazakh Canadian project in the nuclear industry. Since 2010 she is Deputy General Director for Human Resources at CNPC-Kazakhstan.

She is a member of the working group on the development of human capital, Kazakhstan Council of Foreign Investors under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, member of the Coordinating Council “Development of Human Capital”, KazEnergy.

Elmira Kusainova, Human Resources Director of PetroKazakhstan

Elmira has been with PetroKazakhstan for over 20 years where she has grown from specialist to director. Her experience includes such companies as Halliburton, Schlumberger in the HR sector.

Elmira graduated from Robert Gordon University (UK) with a master’s degree in human resources management.

Yerbolat Sarsenov, Director of HR Department, KMG

Almagul Kazbayeva, HR Manager Shell Kazakhstan

Almagul has over 20 years of experience in HR. As an HR manager, Almagul has experience in various industries such as FMCG, telecommunications, banking and has worked in the oil and gas industry for the last 15 years with business units of large international companies. She had work experience in different regions of Kazakhstan (Tengiz, Atyrau, Shymkent, Kyzyl-Orda, Aksai, Almaty, and Astana) and abroad (Great Britain).

Beket Gubaydullin, Director of Human Resources Department, Embamunaigas

Beket graduated from KazNTU named after K.I. Satpayev, Atyrau Institute of Oil and Gas with a degree in Engineering, Kazakhstan University of Innovation and Telecommunication Systems.

He began his career at NCPOC as a junior specialist in the finance department. Since 2015 he has been working for Embamunaigas. Since September 2022, he has been appointed Director of the HR and Compensation Department.

Beket has been involved in projects to transform the company’s business, managed the project “Improving the efficiency of the transport support process at Embamunaigas JSC”. Also, within the framework of the Company’s long-term development projects he participated in the reengineering, standardization of the company’s business processes. From 2019 to 2021 he was the Chairman of the Youth Council of Young Specialists of Embamunaigas.

Sholpan Jumagazieva, Director of Samruk Business Academy

Sholpan graduated from the Kazakh Humanitarian Law University with a degree in law in 2003. She began her career as a chief legal adviser, head of the department for privatization of state property and legal support at the State Institution “Mangistau Territorial Committee of State Property and Privatization” of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2004.

Since 2015 she was the Director of the Department of Legal and Personnel Support of KMG Engineering, from 2017 to 2022 she was the Managing Director for Legal and Human Resources of KMG Engineering LLP.

Salman Masood, Head of staff, Eni Kazakhstan

Salman started working in the Pakistani army. Further, he moved to Eni where he has been working for more than 17 years. In the HR sectror he worked in countries such as Pakistan, South Korea and Kazakhstan.

Salman has over 27 years of professional experience including in Human Resources Management. As an HR specialist he takes part in the processes of people management in the organization both at the micro and macro levels. At the micro level, he treats employees as individuals, each with unique needs. At the macro level, he has experience in managing organizational issues of human resources management where he established a human capital development policy in relation to the reward program, benefits, recruitment strategies and employee retention. As Chief of Human Resources, he is responsible for providing overall administration, coordination and evaluation of HR plans and programs. He has extensive experience in planning, organizing, and controlling the activities and actions of the personnel department, participating in the development of goals, objectives and systems of the personnel department.

Zhanna Tarenova, Director of Business School, Narxoz

Zhanna is a certified project manager of the Kazakhstan Project Management Association (KAPM) IPMA 2021. In 1994 she graduated from the State Medical Institute, the International Academy of Business, the Kazakh State Academy of Management (Narxoz).

She began her career as a chief specialist of NefteGaz-Dem and Nurbank. Further, she worked as a recruiter, training specialist of Kazakhoil Aktobe, head of the personnel department of Caspian Oil, HR manager of SPK Batys, head of the personnel department of Kazakhoil Aktobe, deputy director of the management department KazMunayTeniz, Director of the HR Department of Kazakhstan Petrochemicals Industries Inc., Director of the HR Department of Volkovgeologia JSC, Deputy Director of the HR Department of KMG subsidiary and managing director of KBTU.

Alma Nsanbayeva, HR Director, Bolashak Group

Alma is an experienced Human Resources Manager with over 15 years of experience in various international oil and gas projects. Alma is a leader who supports the company and top management with a unique vision and understanding that human capital is every organization’s greatest asset.

Alma graduated from the Kazakhstan Institute of Economics and Law, Atyrau Institute of Oil and Gas and AlmaU. She holds various HRM professional certifications from the UK. Alma is certified business coach, certified coach. In 2018 she was nominated as the Best HR Director of Kazakhstan.

She began her career as a human resources specialist in Embamunaigas and worked in various oilfield service companies in the Atyrau region in senior positions. Since 2012 she has been working in the Bolashak group.

Under her leadership, significant progress has been made in the development and implementation of new approaches to human resource management. With her planning and organizational skills, she was able to successfully implement effective training and development programs for staff. With a background in law, economics, management, and extensive work experience, she is proficient in all aspects of labor relations and interpersonal conflict management. With leadership qualities, strong organizational skills and professionalism, Alma brought positive changes to the management and development of the company’s personnel.

Darkhan Bekbaev, NCOC HR & IT Manager

Darkhan is a strategy and results oriented leader with over 12 years of experience from management consulting to leading human resource management systems in the international oil industry.

As a specialist, he has in-depth knowledge and awards, he is well-equipped in project management, information technology and personnel management strategy. In his work, he selects, implements, maintains human resource management systems in complex environments. He also demonstrates effective communication skills and has a proven track record of building trust at all levels and throughout the organization.

Kairat Joldasbayev, Industrial Relations Manager, TCO

Kairat has been heading the Industrial Relations since 2012 including one of the world’s strategically important projects – the Future Growth Project / Wellhead Pressure Management Project (FGP-WPMP) of TCO.

The activities of Kairat have been repeatedly noted with letters of appreciation from the management of TCO, the KAZENERGY Association, Samruk-Kazyna as well as the state bodies of the Republic of Kazakhstan for cooperation and significant contribution to the development of the oil and gas industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Zhanar Ablaeva, HR Manager, KENT

Zhanar graduated KAZGUU in international law, she has a CIPD-CHRM certification. Zhanar has experience in the field of personnel management and development for over 18 years.

Zhanar started her career at Atyrau Zharyk as a legal adviser. From 2005 to 2007 she worked at PFD International (SGP/SGI projects). From 2007 to 2016 she worked at Agip KCO/NCOC in various positions from QA coordinator to OC manager (different departments Administration / Business Partnership). In the period of 2016 to 2018 she worked at KMG Automation as a Director of Human Resources Management and Development. From 2018 to the present day she has been working as HR manager.

Alibek Danabaev, Deputy General Director for Human Resources and Social Issues, Ozenmunaigas JSC

Kairat Berdaliev, Director of the Human Resources Department of Mangistaumunaigas JSC

Kairat graduated from the Astrakhan State University, Faculty of Physics and Mathematics with a degree in Mathematics, and from KIMEP in the business administration program for management personnel.

He began his career as a mathematics teacher in 2003. Further, from 2004 to 2007 he worked as a teacher of higher mathematics, economic and mathematical modeling. He worked in HR field with different O&G companies in Magystau region. From 2014 to 2020 he worked as the director of the HR department of Karazhanbasmunai, from 2020 to 2021 he worked as an HR Business Partner in KMG.