Assel Zh. Zhanassova

Birth date and place

Born in Almaty in 1987.

Education

• 2010 – Computer Science, University of Cambridge, Bolashak scholarship.
• 2014 – master’s degree, University of Cambridge.
• 2014 – Executive Management programme, Lomonosov Moscow State University.

Biography

Assel Zhanassova has worked in information technology, cybersecurity and digital management. In 2010–2014, she held posts from IT specialist to director of cybersecurity at an international company in London.

She later worked at Kazakhstan’s National Bank, chaired the Zerde holding and held digital technology posts at the Astana International Financial Centre. She was Vice Minister of Trade and Integration in 2020–2022 and chaired Kazpost’s Management Board in 2022–2025.

She was appointed a presidential adviser on 8 June 2025 and Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of Kazakhstan on 10 December that year. She studied at the University of Cambridge under the Bolashak scholarship, completed a Cambridge master’s degree and attended the Executive Management programme at Lomonosov Moscow State University.

Member of the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leader 2025 community and the Global Women Asia Fellow 2024 leadership programme.

Career from source

• 2010–2014 – IT specialist, manager of the IT Department and Director of Cybersecurity at an international company in London.
• 2014–2016 – Deputy Director of the Digital Technologies Department at the National Bank of Kazakhstan.
• 2016–2017 – Chair of the Management Board of the Zerde holding.
• 2017–2018 – adviser to the Governor of the Astana International Financial Centre.
• 2018–2020 – Managing Director for Digital Technologies at the Astana International Financial Centre.
• 2020–2022 – Vice Minister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan.
• 2022–2025 – Chair of Kazpost’s Management Board.
• 8 June 2025 – appointed an adviser to the President of Kazakhstan.
• 10 December 2025 – appointed Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of Kazakhstan.

Awards from source

• 2021 – 30 Years of Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan commemorative medal.
• 2025 – Qurmet Order.