Astana Bilim AcademyAstana BilimAcademy

Our trainers

Experts and authors of Astana Bilim Academy educational programmes

ROBERT DOUGLAS SIM

ROBERT DOUGLAS SIM

CELTA-certified teacher

Robert Douglas Sim is an English language teacher from Scotland, United Kingdom, with 30 years of experience in education, English language teaching, and teacher professional development. He began his professional career in the Scottish education system as an English teacher and later worked as a Quality Improvement Officer. In this role, he provided methodological and professional support to schools and teachers and contributed to the delivery of continuing professional development programmes. In 2015–2016, he worked as a consultant at the Center of Excellence of Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools (NIS) in Astana. Robert holds the internationally recognised CELTA (Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) qualification. Since 2017, he has collaborated with universities and educational organisations across Kazakhstan, participated in professional conferences, and delivered school-based training and professional development for teachers. He is also a co-founder of a language school in Astana. Currently, Robert teaches English to children, teenagers, and adults in Kazakhstan. He is also the author of the Astana Bilim Academy professional development course “Teaching IELTS: Methodology, Strategies and Assessment for English Language Teachers.”

SAULE SERALIMOVA

SAULE SERALIMOVA

Teacher-researcher category, CELTA certified teacher

PhD candidate

SONA PENKINA

SONA PENKINA

Course trainer, CELTA pass A

PhD докторант

Sona works as a teacher at Yessenov University, Aktau. Sona received a CELTA pass A certificate, worked in projects of the British Council in Kazakhstan, the US Embassy in Kazakhstan.

SAULE ASKAROVA

SAULE ASKAROVA

Teacher-researcher category

SHARE NIS Coordinator

Action Research Trainer, KazTEA and the British Council

SUNDET KADIRBAYEV

SUNDET KADIRBAYEV

CELTA-certified, IELTS 8.0, ITEC alumna

Master of Pedagogical Sciences

English teacher at National School of Physics & Mathematics, IELTS 8.0, CELTA-certified, ITEC programme alumna

Ainur Karteyeva

Ainur Karteyeva

CELTA pass B, Msc Degree NU GSE

Master degree

Ainur Karteyeva holds an MSc in Educational Leadership from Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Education. She holds international qualifications including CELTA Pass B (2026), TKT CLIL (Band 4), and TESOL & TEFL. She specializes in English language teaching methodology, Phonics, and early reading instruction in English. She also has experience in studying and applying Singaporean educational approaches and practices.

АСЕЛЬ ЖОЛЫМБЕКОВА

АСЕЛЬ ЖОЛЫМБЕКОВА

phonics specialist

Master's degree

Assel Darkhanbekkyzy Zholymbekova is an English language teacher with a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Nazarbayev University. She holds a BA in Economics and International Relations from Nazarbayev University and is a certified IB (International Baccalaureate) teacher. She currently teaches English at Central Asian Innovation University.