Dinara
Kulibayeva
Biography

Early Life and Background

Dinara Kulibayeva is the daughter of Nursultan Nazarbayev, the former President of Kazakhstan, and renowned philanthropist Sara Alpysovna. Her parents instilled a devotion to public life, and she chose education, social development, and community welfare as her focus. This commitment has guided every project she has led, from founding schools to promoting high-quality, modern education.

A Lifelong Commitment to Education

For Dinara, education is not simply a field of professional activity – it is a calling. In 1998, she founded the NNEF Public Foundation with a clear purpose: to bring international best practice to Kazakhstan and create an environment where children and young people can receive a world‑class education.

Through NNEF, she has established a strong network of schools and educational programmes across all stages of education, helping to set new benchmarks for teaching and learning. Her guidance has been central to integrating modern curricula, supporting teacher development, and establishing partnerships with leading educational institutions worldwide.

The Foundation’s schools and universities now educate more than 33,000 students and employ over 6,000 staff.

Dinara Kulibayeva founded the Montes Alti Educational Foundation (MAEF) in Geneva, where she supports creative and inclusive learning opportunities for young people. Its projects focus on helping those who may otherwise be left behind – creating safe, inspiring environments for young people to explore their talents.

She is also co‑founder of the Halyk Charitable Fund, which plays a vital role in supporting nationwide initiatives in education, healthcare, sport, social protection, and resilience-building.

One of Dinara Kulibayeva’s most meaningful contributions has been bringing SOS Children’s Villages to Kazakhstan under the auspices of NNEF. Her leadership as chairperson has strengthened the organisation’s capacity to provide stable homes, emotional support, and educational opportunities for children without parental care. Under her guidance, SOS has been integrated into a broader national system of child development – a reflection of her belief that every child deserves a fair start in life.

Academic and National Recognition

Dinara earned her bachelor’s degree from the State Institute of Theatre Arts (GITIS), later obtained an MBA from KIMEP University (formerly the Kazakhstan Institute of Management, Economics, and Forecasting), and went on to receive her doctorate from Kazakh Ablai Khan University of International Relations and World Languages. She is a member of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan and has received numerous national and international honours recognising her contribution to education and society.