Our trainers

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

Teacher-researcher category, CELTA certified teacher

PhD candidate

SANDUGASH ISMAILOVA

Teacher-researcher, methodologist

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

Teacher-researcher category

SHARE NIS Coordinator

Action Research Trainer, KazTEA and the British Council

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

BAKHYT SEYDAKHMETOVA

head of department

master's degree

Methodological Centre, Astana City Akimat

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

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.

ALTYNAI AMIROVA

специалист в области методики обучения и профессионального развития педагогов

магистр гуманитарных наук наук

Алтынай Бекбаевна - магистр гуманитарных наук, специалист в области методики обучения и профессионального развития педагогов. Координатор программы CPD British Council Kazakhstan, соавтор руководства по организации непрерывного профессионального развития педагогов в школах Казахстана. Участница международных образовательных программ SUSI (США) - 2022, и ITEC (Индия) - 2024. Автор научных и методических публикаций, разработчик образовательных программ и цифровых решений для педагогов. В своей работе сочетает опыт в области методики преподавания, профессионального развития учителей, проектирования образовательных программ и использования современных цифровых технологий в образовании.

OLGA RUNDINA

Educational psychologist

- Member of the Association of Practicing Psychologists of Central Kazakhstan. - Lead specialist at a psychological support center. - Trainer for a cognitive and social skills development program. - Author of a body-oriented psychotherapy program for individuals facing difficult emotional situations. - Lecturer on socially relevant topics regarding psycho-behavioral disorders.

NELLY VASKOVSKAYA

Psychologist, psychology instructor

- Member of the Association of Practicing Psychologists of Central Kazakhstan. - Lead specialist at the Psychological Support Center; trainer for cognitive and social skills development programs. - Author of a body-oriented psychotherapy program. - Private practice: individual counseling and support for families with children; experience addressing behavioral and emotional challenges. - Uses cognitive-behavioral and body-oriented approaches in practice.