Zhanseit Tuimebayev has led Al-Farabi Kazakh National University since February 2021. He is a linguist by training. He holds a Doctor of Philological Sciences degree and the academic title of Professor, and he began his career as a lecturer at the same university.
He has more than 25 years of experience in public service and diplomacy. He served as Chief of Protocol and Advisor to the President of Kazakhstan, as Ambassador to the Russian Federation and to the Republic of Türkiye, and as Minister of Education and Science (2007–2010). He later served as Governor (Akim) of the South Kazakhstan and Turkestan regions and as Deputy Chairman of the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan.
He is an honorary doctor and professor of universities in Türkiye, Russia and China, including Xi’an Jiaotong University and St. Petersburg Polytechnic University. He is also an Honorary Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic. In 2025 he became a member of the National Kurultai under the President of Kazakhstan. His state awards include the Order “Barys” (First Class) and the Order “Parasat”.