Originally from Kazakhstan, I obtained my bachelor and MSc degrees in Archaeology at UCL, Institute of Archaeology. My MSc thesis is dedicated to copper and tin bronze metallurgy on the Late Bronze Age site of Semiyarka, Kazakhstan.

I am a Harding Distinguished Postgraduate Scholar. Currently I am a Research Assistant at the CAAL project, UCL. In 2021-2022 I was involved as a Project Curator into the Gold of the Great Steppe exhibition, hosted by The Fitzwilliam Museum.

I have an MA degree in Economics and have work experience in telecommunication and financial spheres in Kazakhstan. I was a General Director of a Central Asian office of an American telecommunication company, Coriant, 2013-2017.

I worked as an advisor to the Prime-Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan.