Mr. Ajmal Khan Zazai (Afghanistan) is a tribal chief in South East Afghanistan, like his late father. He however was elected to the position by popular acclaim and has ‘paramountcy’ over nine tribes and affiliations with many others. As such, he works full time as representative of many thousands of people, with burdensome responsibilities given the perilous situation in his country and the vicissitudes of the now more uncertain life in Afghanistan. He has been involved in humanitarian and aid projects as well as appearing on a public stage and in the media in the West. This has necessitated reducing commitment to the family business and industrial interests. Khan was educated at Sidq I Akbar High School, Peshawar and the Herzing Institute, Canada in Micro-computer management. His first job was as Assistant Director for Public Relations at the Afghan Health and Social Assistance Organisation (AHSAO) in Pakistan, 1986-1989. Notable expansion of this service, which included medical, farming and food distribution programs, took place under his aegis. His leadership skills, however, were not to the taste of certain elements and he was taken to Canada under the United Nations protection Program, and received technical education before returning to fight for the causes of his country..

Mr. Timur Shaimergenov (Kazakhstan) is an Assistant to the Deputy Chairman of Mazhilis (The House of Representatives), Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan. He participated in various electoral campaigns as a political advisor and presently manages public relations in the presidential political party “Nur Otan”. Before joining the Government Mr. Shaimergenov was a fellow at the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of Republic of Kazakhstan. Since 2006 Mr. Shaimergenov has served as a member of the Editorial Board of the social-political research magazine “Central Asia and Caucasus” (Sweden). He has authored numerous articles and reviews in the areas of international relations, regional security systems and institutions, NATO’s transformation, and the geopolitics of Kazakhstan and Central Asia. Mr. Shaimergenov holds a Bachelor’s degree in international relations from the Institute of International Professions, Almaty (2004) and currently pursues his Ph.D. Degree in the same field. Research project – “Detailed Study of the American System of Political Administration.”

 

Ms. Parvina Zokirova (Tajikistan) is an Assistant Manager in International Relations Department, Ministry of Energy and Industry of the Republic of Tajikistan. She is currently working with other government agencies, private sector and foreign investors in order to develop the energy sector of Tajikistan. Ms. Zorikova holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Electronics System Design from School of Design, Engineering and Computing at Bournemouth University, UK (2006). While at Bournemouth University she also completed a course at the School of Biomedical Sciences at Southampton University (UK), earning a certificate in Biomedical Science and Biotechnology (2005). Her medical background also includes a diploma in Medical Nursing from Medical College, Tajikistan (1999). Research project – “Prospective Development of the Energy Sector in the Republic of Tajikistan.”

 

Mr. Bahtiyar Shadyyev (Turkmenistan) is a Procurement and Logistics Specialist in Lotus Enerji, EPC Company in Turkmenistan. Before his current position, Mr. Shadyyev worked one year for Credit Europe Leasing in Moscow as a Head Specialist of Financial Control Department. He began his professional life as a Foreign Trade Specialist for 2 years in Delta Petroleum Trading Company, in Istanbul. He holds Bachelor’s Degree in Management from Faculty of Economics and Business Administration Sciences, from Boğaziçi University in Istanbul, Turkey (2006). Research project – “Revival of a Silk Road: Challenges and Perspectives.”

Dr. Alisher Abidjanov (Uzbekistan) is an Associate Professor at the School of Philosophy of the National University of Uzbekistan. He holds BA, MA and Ph.D. degrees in Philosophy from the National University of Uzbekistan where he currently teaches courses in Philosophy of Law, Political Philosophy, and Theory of Civil Society. Dr. Abidjanov’s research interests include theory of civil society, social changes in the transition period in Central Asia, and political culture and the democratization process. During the 2002-2003 academic year and spring of 2004, Dr. Abidjanov was a visiting research professor at The George Washington University, affiliated with the Research Program in Social and Organizational Learning. He is an author of numerous articles, some of which he co-authored with Dr. Laura Adams of the Harvard University. From 2003 to 2007 Dr. Abidjanov was a Program Coordinator at the University of Washington office in Tashkent. Research project – “Government-Organized Non-Governmental Organizations, Civil Society, and Democracy: The Case of Uzbekistan.”

Ms. Aziza Umarova (Uzbekistan) is a Head of Good Governance Unit (Democratic Governance) at UNDP Uzbekistan. She holds a BA (1999) and MA (2006) in International Economics from the University of World Economy and Diplomacy, Tashkent where she is currently pursuing her Ph.D. Degree in the same field. Ms. Umarova also earned a Master’s Degree in Security Studies in Central Asia and Middle East from the University of St Andrews, School of International Relations, UK (Chevening Fellow) in 2005. Her main academic interests include security studies in Central Asia, synergy of Islam and democracy, human security and good governance in Central Asia. Research project – “Decentralization and local governance in Uzbekistan.”