Aizhan Kalimbetova

Summary:
Hired to lead and implement the communications and content distribution strategy for the EU-funded CARAVAN project in Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan), aimed at supporting independent media and promoting media literacy.

Key Responsibilities:

• Developed and managed a regional communications strategy for the CARAVAN program, tailored to the specific contexts of each participating country and multiple channels including social media, websites, newsletters, and offline events.
• Delivered training modules on PR, digital communications, and social media for Internews staff and partners.
• Coordinated media coverage of project activities, including livestreams, photo/video content, and social media posts.
• Designed and executed PR campaigns across Central Asia, including managing vendors, supervising production, monitoring performance, and producing reports and guidance materials.
• Advised project partners on content promotion and distribution strategies; monitored analytics to assess reach and engagement.
• Ensured full compliance with EU visibility guidelines; coordinated donor-branded communications materials across four countries; maintained ongoing reporting and liaison with EU delegation.

• Developed and implemented the first comprehensive communications strategy for the UNESCO Central Asia Office, setting a foundation for consistent and impactful public outreach in the region.
• Led the creation of multimedia storytelling projects, including the office’s first digital feature on female artisans of Central Asia, combining written articles, video interviews, and photo reportage.
• Produced project-related video explainers and organized a high-profile interview with the Office Director to raise visibility of UNESCO’s regional initiatives.
• Filmed and edited field interviews with local craftspeople and archaeologists, sharing their voices and cultural narratives across UNESCO’s regional social media platforms.
• Created and managed a consistent social media content calendar, aligning posts with ongoing projects and global UNESCO messaging, which significantly improved audience engagement.
• Oversaw the design and production of visual communication materials — brochures, banners, flyers, and videos — to support project visibility and advocacy.
• Supported event planning and public outreach efforts, ensuring professional media coverage and visibility across online, print, TV, and radio outlets in Central Asia.

• Developed and implemented national marketing strategies and digital communications plans that significantly increased the visibility and engagement of British Council Kazakhstan.
• Launched and managed high-performing online communities on Facebook, VKontakte, and Instagram — now among the most followed in the industry across Kazakhstan.
• Designed and ran digital advertising campaigns across various platforms, optimizing reach, engagement, and cost-efficiency.
• Served as lead content manager, independently producing high-quality digital materials in various formats — video, photography, graphics, and written content — eliminating the need to outsource smaller content production tasks and significantly reducing operational costs.
• Contributed to capacity building by training colleagues and sharing best practices across Central Asia, resulting in improved regional digital output without additional expenses.
• Managed suppliers and production teams (photographers, videographers) for major campaigns and events including Creative Central Asia, Astana Science Festival, Creative Spark, and I-SEED, leading to improved project visibility and audience growth.
• Led the Kazakhstan Instagram account, now considered one of the most successful across the British Council’s Wider Europe region — both in terms of reach and content quality — as highlighted in internal evaluations.
• Played an important role in organizing the international Future News Worldwide conference in Edinburgh, Scotland, after being competitively selected among dozens of candidates, receiving exceptional feedback for teamwork, communication, and professionalism.
• Successfully recruited and managed interns, planning and monitoring their tasks to ensure productivity while optimizing workflow for the broader communications team.
• Demonstrated consistent excellence in project delivery, content quality, and leadership. According to internal evaluation, exhibited “endless creativity, high responsibility, strong analytical skills, and commitment to continuous development,” all contributing to exceeding digital engagement goals year after year.

• Providing and maintaining timely and accurate administration support to examinations team
• Providing and maintaining an appropriate working environment for staff and visitors which makes a positive statement about Britain and the British Council to clients and customers
• Creating and holding a professional image of the British Council by providing efficient customer experience