Dr. Kairat Kelimbetov was the Governor of Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), a financial services hub operating in Kazakhstan. AIFC also includes Astana International Exchange (AIX), international court under English Common Law, Astana Financial Services Authority (regulator), Islamic Finance, and Green Finance Centre.

Dr. Kelimbetov’s experience also includes:
• Governor of the National Bank of Kazakhstan
• Deputy Prime Minister
• Minister of Economic Development and Trade
• CEO of “Samruk-Kazyna” JSC - Sovereign Wealth Fund
• Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office
• Minister of Economy
• First Vice-Minister of Finance
• Head of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms

Dr. Kelimbetov played key role in developing numerous reforms and economic policies through national strategy “Kazakhstan 2020”. It helped provide clarity and vision for a young country in its economic development and in its new role as independent country.

At a time of financial crises of 2008, Dr. Kelimbetov joined two national funds to create Samruk-Kazyna SWF that would incorporate all national companies as its subsidiary. Through his leadership in development of programs for major state-owned enterprises Kazakhstan was one of the first countries to exit from crises of 2008.

During his term as a Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, he represented the country at the matters related to the World Trade Organization accession. As well as, advancing relations with members of Eurasian Economic Union, to expand trade. In domestic matters he oversaw the macroeconomic policy of the government.

In 2015, under his management, the National Bank of Kazakhstan adopted a new monetary policy regime of inflation targeting. For the first time national currency adopted “free floating” strategy.

Dr. Kelimbetov attended the Moscow State University and National Higher School of Public Administration under the President of Kazakhstan. He has earned his PhD at the Moscow State University and MS in Sustainability Leadership at Cambridge University. Also, he was a Pew Fellow at Georgetown University's Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service.