Former diplomat of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan with extensive experience in international engagement and policy dialogue. Served for many years at the Embassy of Kazakhstan in the United States, where he worked closely with the U.S. expert and policy community. During this time, he developed a strong appreciation for the role of think tanks in shaping policy discussions and supporting informed decision-making, which inspired his continued engagement with analytical and research platforms. Graduate of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and holds a Master’s degree from Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University.

He served as Executive Director of the Kazakhstan Council on International Relations and Chief Research Fellow at the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of Kazakhstan. He has held fellowships at institutions including Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, Harvard University’s Davis Center, the Atlantic Council, and Asia Society’s Asia 21 network, where he serves as Chapter Lead for Kazakhstan and Central Asia. He holds a Master in Public Administration from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore and a Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Tsukuba, Japan.

He is a legal and policy professional with more than 20 years of experience in public administration, international organizations, and analytical research. Berik Mirmanov has held positions within the Ministries of Transport and Communications, Justice, and Finance of Kazakhstan, and served with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine from 2015 to 2022 in monitoring, reporting, political analysis, and team leadership roles. He currently combines research and management responsibilities, focusing on governance, international relations, security, and public policy. Berik holds a Law degree from Kazakh State Law University and a Master’s degree in Project Management from OBS Business School and University of Barcelona.