Caucasus and Central Asia Construction Forum

Mr. Adam Bialachowski is an expert in business management, project and contract management, construction contract cash flow optimization, procurement, FIDIC contract conditions, claims strategy and client relationship management. He has over 15 years of experience in advising on and implementing construction investments and has successfully conducted multiple commercial negotiations with international construction and engineering corporations. Adam has a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from Saint Josephs University, an Masters in Management from Harvard University and MSc in Accounting and Finance from Kozminski, a member of the Polish Association of Consulting Engineers (SIDiR) and former Chair of the Future Leaders Council of FIDIC and former member of the FIDIC Contracts Committee.

Source: Speaker Details: FIDIC Global Infrastructure Conference 2024

Mr. Igenbayev supports the Registrar with all aspects of case administration and case management. He is a law graduate from Al Farabi Kazakh National University, Kazakhstan, and has an LLM from the University College London, UK. Before joining the AIFC Court and IAC, he worked at the Supreme Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan and at the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan. He is a CEDR Accredited Mediator.

Mr. Andrey Artyushenko is a FIDIC Certified Trainer and the Managing Partner & Founder, Artyushenko & Partners law firm. He has more than 23 years of legal experience: contract law, real estate construction (FIDIC contracts, EPC, EPCM construction, PPP, management issues for hotel chains), corporate issues, investment law, etc.

Gulzhamal Umarova is the Director of the Competence Development Center at JSC "Kazakhstan Road Research Institute," Candidate of Technical Sciences, and Associate Professor. She graduated with a degree in "Highway and Airfield Construction."

She has over 25 years of experience in the road sector, including 16 years in academia and 9 years at the research institute (standardization department and competence development center). Her specialization lies in the professional training of engineering personnel.

She is actively involved in addressing the shortage of qualified specialists, including the development of a dedicated educational program in “Transport Construction” and the introduction of mandatory continuing education for professionals in the road sector.

She leads the development of modern training programs. At the Forum, she will present practical approaches to competence development for the sustainable growth of transport and road infrastructure in the region.

Ms. Asel El Housan is a Civil Engineer and a veteran of the international construction industry with more than twenty-eight years of experience in the construction field. She is the founder and the Managing Director of AEH UK Limited. She is an arbitrator and expert witness. Her experience ranges in between many countries including UAE, UK, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Thailand, and Nepal. Asel is a FIDIC affiliate member and certified trainer, she is also a member of many associations like DRBF, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Society of Construction Law, Adjudication Society, and Scottish arbitration centre.

Ms. El Housan was a speaker at many conferences including FIDIC Users Conference, Adjudication Society Conference, DRBF Annual International Conference, CIArb, Alternative Dispute Resolution International Conference, and many others. Asel has long experience in claims, variations, settlement agreements, and construction dispute resolution both litigation and arbitration and an outstanding experience in different types of Contracts (EPC Turnkey, Design & Build, Construction, DBO, DBOT, DBOO, PPP, Consultancy Agreements & Sub-agreements, and Subcontracts.

Mr. Tobolcea is a FIDIC Board Member since September 2024 and a civil and environmental engineer with more than 20 years of experience. He holds a PhD in Civil Engineering from the Technical University of Iasi and currently serves as Managing Partner at PROTOBY & EURO FINANCE ADVISORS, a leading engineering consulting group in Eastern Europe, a group that has grown to over 250 employees, managing EU-funded water and wastewater projects in Romania worth more than €1.5 billion.

 A committed FIDIC volunteer for over 12 years, Mr. Tobolcea has held key leadership roles, including Chair of the Certified Consulting Engineer Programme and Chair of the Future Leaders Council, and contributed to the Diversity Task Force and Sustainable Development Committee.

He has spoken at over 20 FIDIC events and co-authored several State of the World Reports and has authored and co-authored technical papers, policy reports, and contributions to books covering topics such as sustainable infrastructure, project management, FIDIC contract implementation, and climate-resilient water systems. In 2021, he received the FIDIC Future Leaders Award.

Ms. Daduna Kokhreidze is a General Counsel at FIDIC and is overseeing FIDIC contract and legal activities. She advises on the delivery of corporate governance for the federation and its global operations. Her role includes the protection of FIDIC’s IP and strategic advice and contribution to drafting development of FIDIC’s contracts. She is responsible for FIDIC Contract user’s relationship and is dealing with Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) and wider stakeholders.

She is a qualified construction lawyer with significant experience in the construction consultancy and engineering sector. Her experience includes advising on FIDIC forms, representing parties in various forms of dispute resolution, and acting as a sole and three-member dispute board. She has translated the FIDIC Red Book 1999 into the Georgian language. She holds an MSc in Construction Law and Dispute Resolution from King’s College London, is admitted to the Georgian Bar, and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. Before joining FIDIC, she was a partner at a leading law firm in Georgia for over 12 years and led the construction law practice of the firm. She is a regular speaker at industry events. She is a founding member and the (First) Past President of the Georgian Association of Consulting Engineers (ACEG) – FIDIC MA.

Co-founder of FRED Engineering (www.fredeng.eu).

Engineer with 20+ years´ experience in road design and road safety engineering.

In the last years, he has worked as an international expert leading multiple road infrastructure and civil engineering projects funded by IFIs (EC, EIB, WB, ADB) in 25+ developing countries in Asia, North and Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East, Caribbean and Eastern and Western Europe.

He has led several international road safety projects involving institutional strengthening and policy support, capacity building and technical training, road safety audits and inspections, black spot analysis, preparation of road safety manuals and road design manuals and organisation of road safety seminars and workshops.

Mr. Irakli Khergiani i is the Founder and Director of Intelligent Solutions LLC. Being a distinguished engineer and leader in the construction field, with a wealth of experience and expertise Irakli leads a dynamic team in executing innovative and complex construction projects with precision and efficiency. As a member of the FIDIC President's List of Approved Dispute Adjudicators, he brings a unique perspective to construction law and dispute resolution. Additionally, Irakli serves as the President of the Georgian Association of Consulting Engineers, where he champions excellence and collaboration within the construction community contributing to the spread of knowledge and expertise in the Infrastructure society in Georgia and beyond.

Ms. Kamilla Maxatova is Deputy Director of the Kazakhstan National Association of Professional Engineers and Consultants (KNAPEC). She has over 15 years of experience in the road sector, including 10+ years in Project Management Consultancy on IFI-funded projects (WB, ADB, EBRD). Her portfolio includes major infrastructure initiatives such as the Western Europe–Western China Corridor and BAKAD. Kamilla specializes in international procurement, social safeguards, land acquisition, and resettlement.

Mr. Karl Pörnbacher heads the firm's international arbitration team in Germany. Together with his multinational team of experienced international arbitration lawyers, he has represented clients in more than 130 international and domestic arbitrations as counsel. He has further been appointed as an arbitrator in more than 75 cases, both as chairman/sole arbitrator and co-arbitrator. He assists clients in the efficient resolution of their disputes. He is an expert in alternative dispute resolution, with broad experience in the structuring and conduct of alternative dispute resolution proceedings. His experience includes disputes related to energy (gas, oil, renewables), construction and infrastructure projects, (post) M&A, and supply disputes in various industries. 

Mr. Pörnbacher and his team have experience in arbitration proceedings under a variety of rules, including the ICC, VIAC, Danish Chamber of Commerce, Polish Chamber of Commerce, DIS and Swiss Rules, as well as in ad-hoc proceedings. He also represents clients in mediations, dispute board proceedings and adjudications.

Mr. Pörnbacher is a member of the Boards of VIAC, the Arbitration Court at the Polish Chamber of Commerce and the ICC commission on arbitration and serves as Chair of the Arbitration Court of the German-Polish Chamber of Commerce in Warsaw. He is a member of the scientific advisory board of the MuCDR and the BayCDMA, and he teaches courses on arbitration at the University of Bayreuth.

Mr. Leo Grutters is a Dutch construction engineer and dispute resolution expert with over 35 years of international experience. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a member of FIDIC’s President’s List of Approved Dispute Adjudicators. Leo has served as adjudicator, arbitrator, and neutral expert in major infrastructure projects worldwide — including roads, railways, power, offshore, and renewables — and is co-author of several FIDIC reference guides. He is also a recognized trainer and lecturer on FIDIC contracts and dispute resolution methodologies.

Mr. Margulan Abdirov is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in corporate banking and project finance, including the last 8 years at the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB). In their current role as Senior Executive Director of Transport, Industry and Infrastructure, he manages a substantial credit portfolio valued at over $800 million in Central Asia, focusing on fostering economic growth and sustainable development. The amount of EDB’s participation in the projects managed by Mr. Abidrov are above $1 billion.

Notable projects led during his tenure at EDB for the last 8 years include:
Expansion and Modernization of Almaty International Airport: Collaborated on syndicated loans with IFC, EBRD, and DEG, with a project cost of $737 million.
Big Almaty Ring Road: Major PPP project in Central Asia, developed in syndication with EBRD and IsDB, costing $743 million.
Turkistan International Airport: The first greenfield airport in Central Asia in 30 years, with a project cost of $175 million.
Nur Zholy Checkpoint: A PPP project on the Almaty-Khorgos highway, part of the international transport corridor "Western Europe – Western China."
Reconstruction of national highways in Kazakhstan: $200million

Ms. Nata Ghibradze is a Counsel in the International Arbitration Group of Hogan Lovells International LLP in Munich. She specializes in international commercial arbitration, advising clients in complex arbitration proceedings, particularly within the energy (including oil & gas and renewables), construction, infrastructure, and engineering sectors. Her practice has a strong regional focus on Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), Turkey, and Central Asia.

Ms. Ghibradze brings extensive experience in handling arbitrations under all major institutional rules across various jurisdictions, serving both as counsel and arbitrator. She also has significant expertise in Dispute Board proceedings related to large-scale construction projects.

A recognized thought leader, Ms. Ghibradze frequently speaks and publishes on international arbitration matters and is actively engaged in numerous professional organizations. She currently serves as Secretary of ArbitralWomen.

Since 1 January 2022, Ms. Niamh Leinwather has taken office as the Secretary General of the Vienna International Arbitral Centre (VIAC). Of Irish origin, Niamh has both a common and civil law background (Bachelor of Civil Law, University College Dublin, Mag.iur., University of Vienna, Master of European Studies, University of Vienna). She was the first Irish woman to be admitted to the Austrian Bar in 2013 and has over a decade of experience in international dispute resolution at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in Vienna where she acted as both counsel and arbitrator.

Mr. Nikola Pavlović is a civil engineer and contract specialist with over 15 years of experience in major infrastructure and building mega projects. He is the founder of Construction Claim, a consultancy focused on claim preparation, FIDIC contract management, and dispute resolution. As a certified PMP and accredited FIDIC trainer, he has delivered over 50 training sessions and advised on complex contracts across the region. Nikola is the Chair of ACES Serbia (FIDIC Member Association) and an active member of EFCA committees, contributing to the development of engineering consultancy standards in Europe.

Ms. Nina Tsaturova, Head of Legal and Director at Intelligent Solutions LLC in Tbilisi, Georgia, is a Distinguished Member of the FIDIC President's List of Approved Dispute Adjudicators, specializing in construction law and dispute resolution. With over a decade of experience, she adeptly manages construction disputes, particularly FIDIC contracts, offering guidance on contract drafting, negotiation, and various dispute resolution methods. She has successfully handled diverse local and international projects, spanning infrastructure, residential, and commercial developments. Additionally, she actively contributes to the construction community as a Founding Member of the Georgian Association of Consulting Engineers and serves as the DRBF Country Representative in Georgia. As a FIDIC Certified Trainer and Head of Contract Principles at the FIDIC Academy, Ms. Tsaturova's commitment to excellence earned her the prestigious Merit Award for FIDIC Contracts Trainer of the Year in 2023, highlighting her leadership and dedication to advancing industry standards and professional development.

Mr. Prashant Kapila is the Managing Director of Intercontinental Consultants and Technocrats Pvt. Ltd., a leading global engineering consultancy firm headquartered in New Delhi, India. With over 23 years of global experience in the industry, he has made significant strides with numerous consultancy assignments in over 50 countries. He is a strategic and visionary leader, committed to driving business success through a focus on people, innovation, and execution. He is a member of the FIDIC Board, which further solidifies his influence on the global engineering landscape.

He is deeply passionate about contributing to the growth of the Consulting Engineering Industry, particularly in Developing Economies where infrastructure needs are pressing. He is committed to embracing digitalization and creating a platform for knowledge-sharing, innovation, and best practices that will propel the industry forward.

Mr. Taner Dadezade is the founder and Head of International Construction Chambers, London. He is an international construction barrister: specialising in the avoidance and resolution of disputes arising out of international construction and engineering projects, particularly under the FIDIC standard forms of contract; Dispute resolver: sitting as a DB Member, ICC and CIArb arbitrator; and Speaker: having delivered numerous FIDIC lectures and 2-day workshops around the world.

Mr. Dadezade was called to the Bar by Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn in 1996 and is additionally an ICC Arbitrator, FIDIC Certified Adjudicator and Trainer, FIDIC Trainer of the Year 2020 and fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He is also on the FIDIC President's List of Approved Dispute Adjudicators. 

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Mr. Tom Smith is a Partner in the International Arbitration, Construction & Engineering Team at Hogan Lovells in London. He has particular expertise in the resolution of disputes associated with complex engineering and infrastructure projects and is experienced in advising clients in relation to projects based in Europe, Africa and Asia in the oil and gas, conventional and nuclear power, offshore wind, commercial space flight, defence, and transport industries. He has extensive experience of arbitration under the rules of the ICC, LCIA, LMAA and UNCITRAL rules, and has also acted in cases brought before the Commercial Court, and the Technology & Construction Court in London, the courts of several European jurisdictions and before the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. Mr. Smith combines his disputes practice with advisory work, supporting businesses to identify and manage risk throughout the entire life cycle of their projects.

Ms. Violeta Saranciuc is a partner at Zamfirescu Racoți Vasile & Partners in Bucharest (Romania), where she specialises in international arbitration and international disputes. She has extensive experience representing clients before arbitral tribunals under various rules, including ICSID, ICC, VIAC, LCIA, UNCITRAL, as well as the rules of the Romanian arbitral institution. Her work includes disputes related to construction and infrastructure projects, energy disputes, M&A and privatisation matters, international sales and general contractual matters, as well as investment protection matters. She also represents clients in arbitration-related court proceedings and is experienced in complex commercial and competition litigations.

Mr. Birzhan Zharasbayev is the Office Managing Partner in Dentons’ Astana office and heads the Infrastructure Practice in Kazakhstan.  He focuses on infrastructure—including renewable energy— construction and real estate, PPP as well as on corporate and commercial matters.

He has acted as a lead lawyer in major infrastructure and development projects and frequently represents clients in high-level negotiations with the Kazakhstan government. He has advised multilateral institutions, investors, contractors and developers on infrastructure developments, commercial contracts, concession bids and operations, and regulatory and legislative issues. He is also engaged by clients to act as an independent expert, facilitating parties in resolving construction disputes.

Vice President of ISAN Corporation Ltd., Korea / Project Manager in “Balkhash-Burylbaital” project. 

Mr. Kim Noh Sung is a licensed Professional Civil Engineer with extensive experience in civil and infrastructure projects in Korea and internationally. He holds a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Hanyang University and is a certified Professional Engineer in Korea, specializing in civil works execution.

His career began as a junior engineer at the Ministry of Construction and Transport in Korea, where he gained foundational experience in highway and railway projects, including design and supervision tasks. Over time, he expanded his career into overseas construction, working with Korean contractors in various roles—project Engineer, Project Manager, and Project Director.

His international portfolio spans multiple countries, including the Philippines, Iraq, Vietnam, China and Kazakhstan.  Since 2010 he has successfully managed and completed two major and strategic road projects in Kazakhstan: Western Europe-Western China, sections in Kyzylorda oblast and Balkhash-Burylbaital.

Mr. Greg Smith is Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Global Programme Director at the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP), an organisation dedicated to preventing serious road crashes worldwide. iRAP methodologies and tools have become an international standard for road safety assessments, having been used in more than 120 countries to help shape road infrastructure investments totalling more than USD 100 billion. 

Mr. Smith has around 20 years’ experience in international road safety, and works in partnership with governments, multilateral development banks, donors, industry, and non-government organisations around the world. He leads the use of the freely-available iRAP tools and resources; the development of policy; training and technical advice; and advocacy for safer roads. With iRAP and its partners, he has has received several international awards, including Prince Michael International Road Safety, International Road Federation, Institute of Transportation Engineers, and Roads Engineering Association of Asia and Australasia awards.

Mr. Smith holds degrees in engineering and public policy.

Mr. Zhambyl Bakhtiyar has a Master’s degree in Technical Sciences. He has worked as an expert and chief expert in  the Committee for Roads Ministry of Transport and was the former Chief of Division External Loans in the Committee for Roads Ministry of Transport. He has also worked in managerial positions in KazAutoZhol national company and was appointed as Deputy Chairman of Committee for Roads in 2021.

For most of his career, Mr. Bakhtiyar has worked with projects financed by international financial institutions, and thus he is one of most experienced Kazakhstani public servants in the field of FIDIC contract forms. He was representing the client side in Dispute Board hearings and participated in arbitration processes in International Chamber of Commerce in Paris.  He looks forward to sharing his valuable and insightful experiences. 

Mr. Sanjeet Kumar is a Senior Procurement Specialist at the World Bank, working in the Europe and Central Asia (ECA) Region. Prior to this, he served in the South Asia Region of the Bank, and before that, he worked for the National Power Grid of India. He has over 23 years of experience in public procurement and contract management.

Currently, he is supporting more than 25 World Bank–funded projects in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, and also contributes to projects across the broader ECA Region. The sectors he is involved in include railways, roads, water treatment, power transmission, hydropower, health, education, and Public Finance.

Academically, he holds a degree in Electrical Engineering and a Master’s in International Business, with certifications in Public-Private Partnerships, FIDIC contracts, contract dispute resolution, sustainable procurement, and project management.

Mr. Imashev Serik is the Chief Engineer of JSC NC KazAutoZhol since 2021, with more than 20 years of experience in the road industry. He supervises major infrastructure projects, such as the reconstruction of the “Western Europe - Western China” highway and the “Nur-Zhol” program. He actively implements innovative technologies and modern standards in road construction, which contributes to improving the quality and safety of infrastructure. He has participated in official visits, including negotiations with Germany, which contributed to the signing of memorandums of cooperation in the road sector.  For his significant contribution to the development of Kazakhstan's transport infrastructure, he has been awarded medals and honorary certificates. He is considered one of the leading specialists in his field.

Mr. Arystan Massanov has been the director of Kazakh Scientific Research Institute for Road Safety since 2017. He is a member of the Road Safety Committee in International Road Federation and holds several government awards for his contribution to road sector. Mr. Massanov has number of road safety projects including IRAP implementation, road safety audits.

Mr. Massanov graduated from the M. Tynyshpayev Kazakh Academy of Transport and Communications with a degree in Traffic Management in Almaty and a postgraduate degree in Designing Construction of Roads, Airfields, Bridges and Transport Tunnels. He has worked as Deputy Dean of Road Engineering Faculty and has held numerous positions in public sector both in central government and in the regions. 

In addition to a solid civil service and academic background in transport, Mr. Massanov has been involved in several transport projects financed by international organizations such as the World Bank, EBRD, Asian Development Bank, iRAP and others.  

Mr. Zhandos Amanbayev is the Director of Kazakhstan National Association of Professional Engineers and Consultants since 2015. The Association's main activities are development of engineering field, FIDIC promotion and capacity building of Kazakhstani engineering community. 

Mr. Amanbayev has performed number of assignments for World Bank and Asian Development Bank as consultant, previously on institutional development, and now focused on road safety. He has worked in Project Management Consultancy mainly for Western Europe-Western China International Transit Corridor, financed by international financial institutions, the largest infrastructure project in the region. He holds Master's degrees in Public Administration and Business Administration.

Ms. Cremona Cotovelea has over 25 years experience as a construction lawyer and is the founding partner of Tecuci Păltineanu SCPA; and Director for Europe of the DRBF Region 2 Board. She is also a mediator, FIDIC President's List Adjudicator, DB member, arbitrator and a FIDIC trainer. She also qualified as procurement expert and project manager. She has worked in Central Eastern Europe, North Africa, Central Asia / Asia Pacific and the Caribbeans, in civil and military infrastructure and real estate, advising national central agencies and MDBs/IFIs, as well as contractors and consultants.

Mr. Kirill Lonovenko is a Commercial Specialist in the Contract and Procurement Field  of the Energy Sector. He was recognized as an employee with high potential while working in the oil and gas field and participated in a specialized education program focused on Contract and Procurement from Shell and Exxon organizations. Since 2018, he has dedicated herself to expanding knowledge on various FIDIC projects around the world, including in Nigeria, Columbia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Poland, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Thailand, Egypt and etc

In 2021, he achieved his first FIDIC FLM Certificate and is currently working on promoting the FIDIC approach in Kazakhstan Republic. 

Ms. Xin Zhang is a Counsel at ICC International Court of Arbitration. She heads the ICC Secretariat’s office in Hong Kong.  Her team administers ICC arbitration proceedings involving parties in the region and seated in 20 different cities, including Hong Kong, Seoul, Tokyo, Bangkok, Doha, London and Paris. Ms. Zhang is qualified to practice law in PRC and California. Before joining the ICC, she has worked in arbitration for several years with a major Chinese law firm and has also worked as an in-house counsel at a global environmental organization.

Ms. Saniya Ayambekova is the Chief Executive Officer of Advanced Controls & Project Management, a Kazakhstan-based company specializing in project management within the construction industry. She also serves as the Construction Ambassador of the International Project Management Institute (PMI) in Kazakhstan. In this role, she promotes global best practices in project management, contributes to the development of the professional community, and supports the implementation of PMI standards in local projects. She has over 16 years of experience delivering large-scale industrial and commercial construction projects. Saniya holds an MBA in Corporate Governance and a Master’s degree in Economics and Construction Management.

Mr. Gagan Anand, Vice-Chair of the FIDIC Contracts Committee, and Managing Partner of a prominent construction law firm (Legacy Law Offices LLP), is admitted as a Solicitor of England & Wales and as an Advocate in India. Currently, he also holds the position of Special Senior Standing Counsel of Government of Himachal Pradesh in India and has worked as the Chief Legal Adviser of the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board headed by the Chief Minister of Punjab for a decade, and made immense contributions to establish the regulatory framework for infrastructure development including PPPs. During his tenure, the State started adopting FIDIC Lump-sum Turnkey based EPC mode of contracting.

Mr. Anand's more than 29 years of work experience as a construction lawyer spans across projects in India, Bangladesh, Ghana, Kenya, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mongolia, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia and Tanzania. He was awarded the National Law Day Award 2010 by the Vice President of India, with the citation – “remarkable achievements and leadership in the practice of corporate laws including immense contributions for the development of PPPs”. On behalf of the FIDIC Contracts Committee, he oversees the work of Task Group 18 which is developing the principles for the FIDIC’s PPP Form of Contract. 

Mr. Anand is empanelled as an Arbitrator with the Indian Council of Arbitration and the Gujarat International Maritime Arbitration Centre and acted as co-counsel in the landmark case of Saipem S.p.A. (Italy) v. Petrobangla (Bangladesh), one of the most celebrated international arbitrations in the construction and energy sectors.  He has also played a key role in handling international disputes and mediations across diverse sectors, including his  experience acting as a Mediator between parties and advising the Ministry of Road Transport Department (MRTD), Mongolia, on complex issues arising from the construction of two Asian Development Bank-funded highway projects in Mongolia.

He regularly executes work in relation to developmental projects under the aegis of World Bank, ADB, UNDP and JICA and leads a team of lawyers to successfully represent clients in high-stake construction claims cases before Dispute Adjudication Boards (DAB) and Arbitral Tribunals while enjoying a high success rate.

Mr. João Pimentel is the Managing Director of Swedish National Road Consulting AB and a dual Portuguese-Swedish national with over 25 years of international experience in the transport infrastructure sector. A senior civil engineer by training, Mr. Pimentel holds an MSc in Civil Engineering and a Global Executive MBA. He is a EUR ING-certified engineer and a Senior Chartered Member of the Portuguese National Engineering Association.

Throughout his career, he has worked in more than 40 countries, delivering assignments for a wide range of public and private organizations, as well as international financing institutions. His leadership roles at SWECO, Andrade Gutierrez, and other multinational firms have positioned him at the forefront of major infrastructure, transport, and procurement projects across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. He has also played an important managing role in the “Implementation of IRAP” project in Kazakhstan and is renowned for his ability to drive sustainable development, procurement excellence, and cross-border project innovation. Mr. Pimentel also holds several advisory and board positions in companies linked to transport infrastructure investment and consultancy, contributing to long-term sector growth and strategic development.

Mr. Darkhan Rakhimov is a Civil Engineer and Lawyer. He has over 20 years of experience in road construction and infrastructure project management. He holds degrees from L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Kazakh Humanities and Law University, and an MBA from Nazarbayev University. A certified IPMA project manager (Levels A–D), he has held senior positions at BI Group, KazAvtoZhol, and GosExpertiza, and previously served as General Director of BI Infra and currently is the Director of InnSight LLP, BI Group. He holds several state honors, including "Honored Builder of Kazakhstan." Proficient in Kazakh, Russian, and English, he is also familiar with FIDIC practices. 

Mr. Wang Huai is the head of the Central Asian regional office of Sinohydro Corporation Limited. Mr. Wang Huai has successfully managed the construction of large infrastructure projects, the most important strategic roads in Kazakhstan and other Central Asian countries. The sections of the international transit corridor Western Europe-Western China in the Turkestan region were successfully completed, where the client was the Committee for Roads Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the financing was provided by the World Bank. In recent years, the company has successfully completed sections of the Balkhash-Burybaytal project, the Center-South Corridor. 

Dr. Kasem Choocharukul is a full-time Professor and Head of the Civil Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand. His research interests include transportation planning, travel demand modeling, travel behavior analysis, and traffic safety.  He is currently directing the Thailand Road Assessment Programme (ThaiRAP) to establish star ratings and road safety improvements for Thai road networks. With over 20 years of experience in transportation engineering, Dr. Kasem has also worked closely with local road authorities such as the Department of Highways, the Department of Rural Roads, and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to enhance road traffic safety and mobility in the country.

Mr. Imanashev is Chairman of the Board JSC NC “KazAutoZhol” since 2023. He has more than 20 years of experience in the road construction field, including managerial positions in government organizations both in Astana and regions, and private sector. He has worked in largest infrastructure projects that were implemented in Kazakhstan such as the Western Europe-Western China International Transit Corridor, Taldykorgan-Oskemen and others. He holds a Masters degree in Technical Sciences. 

Ms. Feruza (Firuza) Bobokulova is a partner of MY LAWYER Law Firm, who directs the practice of international arbitration and construction law. She has successfully represented the interests of the state and private parties in dispute board proceedings as well as in arbitrations conducted under the ICC Arbitration Rules, the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules, Vienna Rules, and London Chamber of Arbitration Rules. She has also represented the parties in sports arbitration, including in the proceedings at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). 

Ms. Bobokulova is a FIDIC Certified Trainer in Fundamental Construction Contracts as well as a FIDIC Certified Trainer in Silver Book. She is also a FIDIC Certified Contract Manager. Moreover, she is the first Honorary Member of the Association of Consulting Engineers of Uzbekistan as well as a member of the FIDIC Asia Pacific Future Leader’s Executive Committee.

 In addition, Ms. Bobokulova is a member of the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). She is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, London and a member of the Dispute Resolution Board Foundation. 

Ms. Aizhan Issagulova has been working in Kazakhstan National Association of Professional Engineers and Consultants since 2017. She is in charge of organization and management of FIDIC courses and seminars in Kazakhstan that have been successfully conducted since 2017, and are organized currently as well.

 She has a Masters degree in Transportation Engineering, East Kazakhstan State Technical University, 2017. Ms. Issagulova is a highly qualified road engineer, her main area of expertise is FIDIC promotion in Kazakhstan and road safety, she is Vision Zero Academy graduate and IRAP accredited specialist.

She successfully completed the FIDIC Module 1 and Module 2 courses in 2018 and in 2023, as well as the IPMA Project Management course in 2024. Her work experience includes work in Committee for Roads Ministry of Transport Republic of Kazakhstan, Kazakh Scientific Research Institute for Road Traffic Safety, Project Management Consultancy in Big Almaty Ring Road, flagship concession project in Central Asia. 

Mr. Kim Jin Woo is a Professional Civil Engineer, since 1992, has been involved in numerous MEGA projects in Korea, including the High-Speed Railway, Incheon Airport, and various Highways across Korea. 

Specifically, as a technical design engineer, he provides technical solutions for structural and geotechnical challenges encountered on-site by analyzing the structural behavior of bridge sub-structures and super-structures, soft soil treatment methods, and stability check for rock excavation tunneling projects.

He has also served as a construction manager for highway construction projects and port structures, including offshore pile driving, in Korea, Sri Lanka, Lao PDR, and Vietnam. Furthermore, he managed projects successfully as a Supervision Consultant or Project Management Consultant in Saudi Arabia, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan. 

Mr. Maxat Bayakhmet is the Deputy Chairman of Committee for Roads Ministry of Transport Republic of Kazakhstan since 2024. He has been public servant since 2013, working in road authorities. In 2013-2015 and 2020-2024 he has worked in North Kazakhstan akimat, in junior and senior positions lately, being head of division for Passenger Transport and Roads for North Kazakhstan in 2021-2024. In years 2015-2020 he was worked in Committee for Roads Ministry of Transport being responsible for projects financed by international financial institutions and implemented as per FIDIC contract conditions. His wide experience includes managing key infrastructure projects of road sector in Republic of Kazakhstan.

Mr. Himanshu Batra is a seasoned professional with over 12+ years of experience in the construction industry, specializing in claims and dispute management of infrastructure projects. He has experience in major capital projects such as railways, telecom, hydro-tunnels, power transmission projects, dome construction etc., where he has specifically dealt with matters related to delay. Mr. Batra is recognized in the Arbitration-Future Leaders 2025 category by Who’s Who Legal (Lexology). 

Mr. Batra has a strong background in construction consulting where he works in close association with legal teams and construction contractors/employers in domestic and international arbitrations involving Expert delay and quantum analysis engagements. He has worked on disputes of various jurisdictions including India, UAE, Russia, Malaysia, Singapore etc. in arbitrations under SIAC, SCC, DIAC and ICC. He has also worked in engagements related to fraud assessment in infrastructure and hotel projects.

Prior to working with MASIN, Mr. Batra was associated with Deloitte where he provided construction dispute advisory services.

Mr. Shukhrat Khojaev is a senior procurement expert with over 20 years of experience across MDBs and the private sector. Specializing in infrastructure projects, procurement reforms, and project procurement, he possesses deep expertise in MDB policies, FIDIC contracts, and dispute resolution. His work spans Asia and Africa, where he has contributed to institutional reforms and capacity-building initiatives. Fluent in five languages, Mr. Khojaev applies a multicultural, principle-driven approach to modernizing procurement systems. He is committed to sustainable development, regional cooperation, and delivering high-impact, value-for-money solutions that promote inclusive, resilient growth.”

As a Chartered Civil Engineer with 50 years’ experience, Mr. David Carmichael has worked on road related projects in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Ukraine, Iran, Oman, Cyprus, Papua New Guinea, Botswana, Lesotho and the UK. Experience has been gained on all aspects of highway engineering including feasibility studies, preliminary design, final design and preparation of contract documentation, tender assessment and supervision of construction.

Experience has also been gained on the preparation of claims and referrals for dispute resolution under the FIDIC suite of contracts and he is currently a Licensed Professional and DB Practitioner with the Dispute Resolution Board Foundation

As the Roadway Safety Foundation’s Executive Director, Mr. Bruce Hamilton is responsible for oversight of RSF activities and execution of grants and cooperative agreements. This includes developing programs that promote safer road design, educating road users, and sharing best practices to reduce traffic fatalities through infrastructure enhancements. In this role, Mr. Hamilton also serves as the head of RSF’s signature effort, the U.S. Road Assessment Program (usRAP), which offers an innovative and proactive approach for data-driven safety analysis and planning at no cost to public agencies. Mr. Hamilton holds a BA in International Relations from Tufts University and a Master of Public Health from GW's Milken Institute. He previously worked at the AAA Foundation and the Department of State’s Foreign Service Institute.

Ms. Maria Jonker joined the LCIA casework team as Counsel in 2021. She is responsible for the day-to-day administration of disputes referred to the LCIA, which includes appointing tribunals, monitoring progress of the arbitration, all under the authority of the LCIA Court. She is qualified in England & Wales (as a solicitor), Kazakhstan and Russia, and is also admitted to practice as an attorney in New York and as special legal consultant in Washington DC. Ms. Jonker  undertook her initial legal training in Almaty and is a native Russian speaker. Prior to joining the LCIA, she worked in several leading global law firms, representing clients in investor-state arbitrations and complex disputes across a range of industries, with a focus on energy, construction, agriculture, and other regulated sectors.

Mrs. Ismakova has over 32 years of management consulting, contract management and procurement experience. She is one of 3 ADB’s Procurement Directors with responsibility for procurement policy dialogue with 13 ADB Member countries (Central- West Asia and East Asia). She is overseeing procurement in Human Sector Development (Health, Education, Social Protection) and Public Financial Management Sector in all ADB Developing countries. Galiya is supervising the team responsible for business opportunities outreach activities, including ADB’s flagship Business Opportunities Fair and Business Opportunities Seminars.

Immediately prior to her appointment as a Procurement Director, she was assigned to the Papua New Guinea Resident mission to provide procurement support to PNG, Federated States of Micronesia and Republic of Marshall Islands.  Her other assignments included strategic placement with Central Asia Water Supply, Sanitation and Urban Sector, Regional procurement head positions for South East Asia and the Pacific, Consulting Services Unit Head and Contract Administration Unit Head.

Mrs. Ismakova is an expert in improvement of procurement systems, with track record of digital transformation of consulting recruitment from multiple siloed applications to ADB’s Consultant Management system which is currently used by over 42,000 users. She is also an expert in e-procurement, having supervised Regional Technical Assistance project for Strengthening Asia Pacific Public Electronic Procurement Network. She organized 9 out of 10 conferences of Asia Pacific Public Electronic Procurement Network. She supervised the team of experts for publication of ADB’s e-government procurement handbook.

Ms. Ismakova is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS), Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). Her educational attainments includes MBA from the University of Western Australia, PhD (Philosophy) from the Institute of Philosophy and Law, Academy of Sciences, Republic of Uzbekistan, Management Development Diploma from I.A.E (Institute of Administration of the Enterprises), Universite Aix-Marseille III, France and Lancaster University Management School, the UK and Graduate Diploma (Philosophy) from Tashkent State University Faculty of Philosophy and Economics.

Dr. Gulzhamal Umarova is the Director of the Competence Development Center at the Kazakhstan Road Research Institute JSC, PhD in Technical Sciences, and Associate Professor. She holds a degree in “Highway and Airfield Construction” and has over 25 years of experience in the road and transportation industry, including 16 years in academia and 9 years at the research institute, working in the Standardization Department and the Competence Development Center.

Dr. Umarova is a highly qualified trainer of engineering personnel and plays an active role in addressing the shortage of skilled specialists in the sector. Her initiatives include the development and implementation of a dedicated educational program, “Transport Construction,” as well as the introduction of mandatory advanced training for road sector professionals. She leads the design of modern training programs aimed at enhancing the professional competencies of industry personnel.

At the forum, she presents practical approaches to competence development that contribute to the sustainable growth of the region’s transportation and road infrastructure.

Ms. Sophie Tkemaladze is an independent practitioner advising international organizations and public and private companies on dispute resolution system and policy. She drafted amendments to the Law on Arbitration passed in 2015 and drafting the Law on Mediation passed in 2019. She served as a chairperson of the Georgian Association of Arbitrators (2017 - 2021) and has also worked extensively outside of Georgia leading policy advise and capacity building efforts in Iraq, Sri Lanka, Ukraine, Fiji, Armenia, Tajikistan.

Ms. Tkelmaladze has served as an arbitrator under the ICC, GIAC and DRC Rules. Her mediation practice focuses on commercial and workplace disputes, as well as facilitating disputes on behalf of the IFIs (ADB, EIB). 

After graduating from Tbilisi State University, she obtained a LL.M in International Business Law from Central European University and a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard University.

Mr. Ablaliyev has been Vice-Minister of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan since October 2023. He started his career as an Operator-collector at the Central Engineering and Technical Service of the South Emba Oil Exploration Expedition. From 1987 to 2004, Mr. Ablaliyev had been holding various academic positions at the Kazakh Academy of Transport and Communications. Moreover, he was Deputy Director for Academic Affairs of the Institute of Transport Construction and the Institute of Organization of Transport Production.  From 2004 to 2011, Mr. Ablaliyev assumed key positions at the Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Kazakhstan such as Head of Pricing and Design Methodology Department, Head of Construction and Reconstruction Department and Head of the Department of External Loans and Concession Projects of the Committee for Highways and Infrastructure Construction. Moreover, Mr. Ablaliyev was appointed as President of the Association of Road Builders of Kazakhstan.

In 2012-2021, he was acting as Deputy Chairman of the Highway Committee of the Ministry of Transport and Communications (2012-2014), Ministry of Investment and Development (2014-2019) and the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan (2019-2021).Prior to his current position, Mr. Ablaliyev was appointed as Deputy Head of the North Kazakhstan region from 2021 to 2023.  Mr. Ablaliyev graduated from Almaty Automobile and Highway Institute with the specialty of Civil Engineer and from Kazakh Transport University obtaining the qualification of Engineer-economist.

Mr. Karabayev was recently appointed Vice Minister of Industry and Infrastructure Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan.  He began his career in 2011 as an acting expert of the Administration for the operation and development of networks of water facilities of the Committee for water management of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan. From 2011 to 2013, he was an expert, chief expert of the Office of Technological Development of the Service Industry of the Department of New Technologies and Energy Saving of the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In 2015-2017, he was Deputy Head, Head of the Department of Entrepreneurship and Industrial-Innovative Development and Tourism of the South Kazakhstan region. In 2018-2019, he held executive positions in the Department of Development of the Defense Industrial Complex of the Ministry of Defense and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

From August 2019 to July 2020, he served as Director of the Department for Development of the Defense Industrial Complex of the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies of the Republic of Kazakhstan. From July 2020 to January 2021, he was Chair of the Committee for Industrial Development and Industrial Safety of the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development of Kazakhstan. From January 2021, he has worked as Chair of the Industrial Development Committee of the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development of Kazakhstan.

Ms. Aydai Soltobaeva is a lawyer with over 20 years of experience in the field of legislation, including 10 years in the road and transportation sectors. She specializes in the development of regulatory legal acts and strategic documents, legal expertise, and support for infrastructure projects, as well as the administration of construction contracts, including those based on FIDIC and national legislation. She has participated in the reform of the road sector and collaborated with the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, USAID, and UNDP. She holds a Master's degree in Public and Local Administration. She is the author/co-author of more than 25 regulatory documents and strategies. As part of her work at the Department of Road Economy under the Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Kyrgyz Republic, she oversees road reconstruction and construction projects funded by the state.

Mr. Serkan Kaplan is a highly skilled Mechanical Engineer with over 9 years of professional experience in the design, installation, supervision, and management of mechanical systems across Turkey, Cyprus, and Kazakhstan. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Karadeniz Technical University and is a member of the Chamber of Mechanical Engineers. His expertise spans food processing facilities, hospital infrastructure, R&D laboratories, and wastewater treatment systems.

Serkan has led multidisciplinaryteams, managed international machinery procurement, and worked on complex projects under FIDIC conditions. Since 2022, he has served as the Kazakhstan Branch Manager for KLV Construction, advancing the company’s presence in Central Asia.

Mr. Kamaliyev is the chairman of the National Committee of the World Road Association PIARC in the Republic of Kazakhstan and has headed several companies. From 2014 to 2015, he was Chairman of the Management Board of NC KazAvtoZhol JSC. From January 2015 to July 2016, he was Vice President of Kazakhstan Temir Zholy NC JSC.  He was also the Head of the Karaganda Regional Department of Highways.

From July 13, 2016 to December 2016, he was Vice Minister for Investment and Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Most recently, from March 2019 to April 2022, he was Vice Minister of Industry and Infrastructure Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Mr. Kamaliyev graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering. He has a PhD in Economics and is the author of a number of scientific publications too.