Gulshara Abdykhalikova
Gulshara Abdykhalikova | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 15, 1965 Solo Tyube village, Kazakhstan |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Known for | Akim of Kyzylorda Region, Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, State Secretary of Kazakhstan, Minister of Labour and Social Protection |
Gulshara Naushaqyzy Abdykhalikova (; Gülşara Nauşaqyzy Äbdıqalyqova; born 15 May 1965) is a prominent Kazakhstani political figure currently holding the position of akim of Kyzylorda Region since 28 March 2020. Her tenure as a member of the Mazhilis spanned from 16 August 2019 until 27 March 2020. Abdykhalikova has twice fulfilled the role of Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, first from 28 November 2013 to 11 November 2014, and later from 25 February 2019 to 20 August 2019. Additionally, she was appointed as State Secretary of Kazakhstan between November 2014 and February 2019, and served as Minister of Labour and Social Protection from March 2009 through September 2012.
Early life and education
Born in Solo Tyube village, Abdykhalikova completed her higher education at the Jambyl Technological Institute of the Light and Food Industry in 1987, specializing in economics. She attained her candidate degree in economic sciences in 2005, presenting a dissertation entitled "Capitalization of pension funds: problems and prospects (examples of NPFs of the Republic of Kazakhstan)."
Career
Abdykhalikova began her professional journey in 1987 as a senior inspector and later led the Kyzylorda Regional Department of Social Protection. By 1994, she was serving as a consultant to Kazakhstan’s Supreme Soviet. Following its disbandment in 1995, she occupied various management positions within the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, including leadership roles over pension management and social security administration.
Her appointment as Vice Minister of Labour and Social Protection came in March 2003. In December 2005, she briefly assumed the chairmanship of the Board at JSC Life Insurance Company before resuming her vice ministerial duties in October 2006. Between October 2007 and January 2008, she acted as Executive Secretary for the Ministry. Subsequently, in January 2008, Abdykhalikova was appointed presidential adviser and took charge as chairperson of the National Commission on Women and Family and Demographic Policy.
She held the ministerial office for Labour and Social Protection starting March 4, 2009, until September 2012 when she returned to her advisory role to the President. On November 28, 2013, she was elevated to Deputy Prime Minister, a position she maintained until November 2014 when she transitioned to State Secretary. Her second term as Deputy Prime Minister lasted from February to August 2019 before she joined the Mazhilis, where she was elected chairwoman of the Chamber Committee on Socio-Cultural Development in September that year.
From March 2020 until April 2022, Abdykhalikova made history as Kazakhstan’s inaugural female regional governor while serving as akim of Kyzylorda Region. Since June 6, 2022, she has been engaged in business as a partner responsible for human resource management at JSC NC KazMunayGas.