ASTANA – The Kazakh government appointed June 6-7 five new vice ministers to oversee digitisation within their ministries. They join Deputy Prime Minister Askar Zhumagaliyev who is responsible for overseeing the country’s digitisation process and who is colloquially known as “chief digital officer.”
The new appointees, in turn, were immediately dubbed “digitisation commissars” as part of the largely positive comments in social media.
Ruslan Yensebayev was appointed Vice Minister of Finance. He graduated from the Institute of Management in 2005, the Satpayev Kazakh National Technical University in 2013 and the International University of Information Technologies in 2016.
He started his career in 2001 as a leading specialist for the Centre for Informatisation of Financial Systems state company. He then held executive positions in the National Information Technologies Company, Kazakhtelecom national company, the Zerde National Infocommunication Holding and the Kazatomprom National Atomic Company. From June 2017 until present, he was Chair of the Board of Zerde.
Dinara Scheglova is now Vice Minister of Information and Communications. In 2004, she graduated from the Gumilyov Eurasian National University, in 2007 from the Ryskulov Kazakh Economic University and in 2012 from the Kazakh University of Economics, Finance and International Trade. She has a bachelor’s degree in management, as well as in information systems. Scheglova started her career in 2001 in the commercial industry, after which she worked as a consultant to the World Bank in Kazakhstan in 2008-2009.
From 2011 to 2018, she held executive positions at Zerde. Starting January 2018 to present, she held the position of Deputy Chairperson of the Board of Zerde.
Olzhas Abishev was appointed Vice Minister of Healthcare. He is a graduate of the Kyzylorda State University, the University of Aulie Ata, the Engineering College and the Andong National University in South Korea. He has degrees in economics, computer science and law.
He worked at the Kazagromarketing Company, Kazakhstan Gharysh Sapary (space agency), the National Information Technologies Company, the National Medical Holding, the Centre for Medical Technologies and Information Systems, the Centre for Military Strategic Studies, Astana Innovations and the Turan Astana University, among others.
From September 2017 until present, he was Director General of Kazakhstan’s Republican Centre for Electronic Healthcare.
Nariman Mukushev was appointed Vice Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Population. He is a graduate of the Suleyman Demirel University and the International Business Academy. He holds a bachelor’s degree in systems engineering and a master’s degree in business administration.
In 2005-2014, he worked at Kazkommertsbank, including as Director of Innovative Technologies Department. From 2014 to 2017, he was the Managing Director for Innovation and IT at Kazpost. From September 2017 to present, he held the position of Kazpost’s Managing Director for Business Transformation and IT.
Rustem Bigari was appointed Vice Minister of Education and Science. He graduated from the Ualikhanov Kokshetau State University in 1999, majoring in informatics and computer engineering. He holds a master’s degree from the Boston University (the USA) in information systems with a specialisation in cybersecurity. He is the holder of the Bolashak scholarship and a PhD in computer science, control and management.
He worked at the United Nations Development Programme in Kazakhstan, the National Information Technologies Company and the Administration of the President of Kazakhstan, where he was chief expert, consultant and then head of Informatisation Sector.
From August 2009 until present, he was Deputy Head of Department of Informatisation and Protection of Information Resources at the Presidential Administration.
