Ainur Rodgers has over two decades of experience in the energy industry and management consulting with Regulatory Economics Group, LLC. She is a seasoned expert in market analysis, financial modeling, project management, and investment strategy, enabling US and international corporations to maximize their revenue and win multi-million dollar court cases. She holds an MBA in Finance & Investments from George Washington University and a BA in International Business from the Kazakh State Academy of Management.
Ainur is also passionate about social projects and giving back to her homeland. She is one of the founders of KCBANA and currently serves as its elected president, as well as being a founder of the Gulder USA Dance Ensemble and a former VP of the Kazakh-American Association. Ainur has conducted multiple fundraising campaigns to send aid to people in need in Kazakhstan and has organized and participated in numerous festivals promoting Kazakh culture in the US.
Gulnara Febres is a distinguished professional serving as a Senior Operations Officer at the World Bank in Washington, D.C., for 29 years. During her tenure at the World Bank, Gulnara has led multiple development projects at the global level, working in Europe and Central Asia, Africa, East Asia & Pacific, and the Middle East and North Africa regions. Before joining the World Bank, Gulnara served at USAID. She was one of the first three Kazakh nationals hired by the US Embassy and was instrumental in the establishment of diplomatic relations between the USA and Kazakhstan. She began her career as a professor at the Kazakh Medical Institute.
Gulnara Febres is well known to the Kazakh and Central Asian community in the United States as one of the founders of the Kazakh American Association. Currently, she serves as one of the Founding Directors of the Kazakhstan Cultural & Business Association of North America (KCBANA). Gulnara holds two master's degrees: one from Duke University and another from the Kazakh State University.
Alfiya Bikineyeva is an accomplished medical professional. From her beginnings as a distinguished graduate of the Kazakh National Medical University to her various roles in prestigious institutions around the world, she has accumulated a wealth of experience in both clinical medicine and public health. Her tenure at institutions such as the CDC, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Emory University, Vanderbilt University, and now the National Institutes of Health underscores her commitment to advancing medical knowledge and contributing to the improvement of global health.
Alfiya is one of the Founding Directors of the Kazakhstan Cultural & Business Association of North America (KCBANA). The combination of her clinical, research, and public health experience positions her as a valuable asset in tackling complex health challenges and advancing healthcare systems both locally and globally.
Tokjan Balderston is one of the Founding Directors of the Kazakhstan Cultural-Business Association in North America (KCBANA), located in Washington, DC. Her life’s work has been dedicated to celebrating the beauty and richness of Kazakh arts and culture. Since moving to the U.S. from Kazakhstan, her work has expanded to creating events and exchanges that promote and share culture, fine arts, artisanship, and business opportunities between countries.
In addition to her work with KCBANA, Tokjan was one of the founders of the Kazakh-American Association, which has hosted and organized a number of high-profile events showcasing Kazakhstan and serves as a vital social networking group for Kazakhs in the United States. She was also the Founder and President of CACE, Central Asian Cultural Exchange, one of the first organizations to focus on art and artists through exchanges between Central Asia and the U.S.
Prior to moving to Washington, DC, Tokjan served as Deputy Director of the Kasteyev National Museum of Art in Kazakhstan. She holds an MA in History of Arts from the Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg, Russia, and a BA in Foreign Languages from the Institute of Foreign Languages in Almaty.
Ksenia Kameneva is a self-made businesswoman and owner of several corporations operating in the US, Canada, and Kazakhstan. Her companies are leaders in the North American document market, including Kazakh Service Centre, WDC Apostille & Legalization Services, and Canada Legalization Services. She graduated from Kazakh National Medical University and Kazakh National Economic University named after Turar Ryskulov.
As one of the Founding Directors of the Kazakhstan Cultural & Business Association of North America (KCBANA), she not only maintains ties with her cultural roots but also utilizes her extensive financial and document expertise to foster connections and promote collaboration between Kazakhstan and North America.