Ardingly Astana School
Eng
  • Rus
  • Kaz
Rus Kaz Eng
  • About us
    • Welcome from the Headmaster
    • History of Ardingly College
    • Ardingly Astana
    • A World Ready Education
    • Mission, Vision & Values
    • Board of Governors
    • Senior Leadership Team
    • Teaching Staff
    • Policies
    • Careers
  • Academics
    • Overview
    • Primary School
    • Secondary School
    • Sixth Form
    • IGCSE
    • A Level
    • English as an Additional Language (EAL)
  • School Life
    • Pastoral Care & Wellbeing
    • Co-Curricular Activities
    • Our Campus
    • School Uniform
    • Dining & Nutrition
    • Parent-Teacher Association
  • Admissions
    • Admissions Process
    • Fees & Funding
    • Scholarships
    • Term Dates
    • FAQs
  • News & Events
  • Contacts
    • Contact details
    • Enquiry Form
    • Venue Hire

Board of Governors

  • Home
  • About us
  • Board of Governors

Meet the Board of Governors, whose expertise and guidance help shape the vision and direction of Ardingly Astana.

Alister Bartholomew

Alister Bartholomew

Chair of the Board; President
of the Primus Education
Assel Sugurbayeva

Assel Sugurbayeva

CEO, Primus Education
Darren Jones

Darren Jones

Founding Headmaster, Ardingly Astana
Kobey Zhangbyrshy

Kobey Zhangbyrshy

CEO, Primus Capital
Roger Holland

Roger Holland

Founder & Managing Partner, Gryphon Holdings Plc
Howard Bullock

Howard Bullock

Associate Consultant, Mark Brooks Education
Jamie Large

Jamie Large

Director, Ardingly College International
Tom Scully

Tom Scully

Chief Operating Officer, Ardingly College
Aibek Dossymbekov

Aibek Dossymbekov

General Director, Ardingly Astana
Stephane David

Stephane David

Board Director, Ardingly College International
+7 (700) 317-1111
admissions@ardingly.edu.kz

Ardingly Astana
Е511 str., 28, Astana

Admissions Office
Temporarily located at:
Korgalzhyn Highway 13a, Astana

Links

  • Home
  • Admissions
  • Academics
  • A World Ready Education
  • Our Campus
  • Venue Hire
  • Our Prospectus
  • Contact us

Connect

Privacy Policy© Ardingly Astana 2026
Developed by Internet Resheniya

Alister Bartholomew

Chair of the Board; President
of the Primus Education

With over 40 years of experience in education, Alister Bartholomew has held senior leadership positions across leading UK and international schools. His roles have included President, CEO, COO, Regional Director, Director of Education, Headmaster and Chairman of Governors for the Ardingly, Haileybury and Coventry University brands in Central Asia, as well as for the GEMS, Dulwich, Beaconhouse and Tenby Groups across Asia.

Over the past 19 years, he has focused on strategic development, leading projects to establish branded school partnerships, expand school group operations and develop university links internationally. He has worked closely with governments and Ministries of Education, including in Singapore, Malaysia and Kazakhstan, and has led numerous projects from concept to successful delivery.

Alister brings extensive experience in governance, international school development and academic leadership, with a strong understanding of both educational excellence and sustainable institutional growth.

Alister Bartholomew

Assel Sugurbayeva

CEO, Primus Education

Asel Sugurbayeva is a leader in international education and strategic development, with experience spanning education, investment promotion and business development.

She has worked on the development and launch of international education initiatives in Kazakhstan, bringing together expertise in partnership development, operations and long-term growth. Prior to entering the education sector, she worked in banking and later in public service, focusing on investment policy and foreign direct investment promotion.

Asel holds an MBA from the Asia School of Business (in collaboration with MIT Sloan), an MSc in International Political Economy from Nanyang Technological University, and a BA in International Relations from the Eurasian National University. She also completed further studies in Economics and Business at KAZGUU University.

Assel Sugurbayeva

Darren Jones

Founding Headmaster, Ardingly Astana

Darren Jones is a highly accomplished educational leader with 30 years of experience in prestigious schools across the UK, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.

He holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). Darren also has an Honours degree in Jazz, Contemporary, and Popular Music (GCLCM) and is a member of the Royal Society of Arts, the Chartered College of Teachers, and the Chartered Institute of Managers.

Throughout his career, he has held senior leadership roles in schools, leading on curriculum development and helping to shape learning environments that prioritise academic excellence and the all-round development of pupils.

Darren Jones

Kobey Zhangbyrshy

CEO, Primus Capital

Kobey Zhangbyrshy is a senior executive with over 20 years of leadership experience in investment, finance and strategic business development. He currently serves as General Director of Primus Capital LLP, leading corporate strategy, growth initiatives and partnership development. 

He has held board-level and senior management positions within major national and private companies, financial institute and central Government bodies of the Republic of Kazakhstan, gaining strong experience in financial regulation, public policy and strategic planning.

He holds an MA in Economics (Financial Analyses) from KIMEP University and a Bachelor’s degree in International Economic Relations. Kobey brings to the Board extensive expertise in governance, financial oversight and long-term investment strategy.

Kobey Zhangbyrshy

Roger Holland

Founder & Managing Partner, Gryphon Holdings Plc

Roger Holland is a property sector leader and governance professional, serving as Founder & Managing Partner of Gryphon Holdings Plc in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

He has extensive experience in property advisory, brokerage, management, and valuation, and currently acts as Regional Partner – Central Asia.

He is also a Board Member of the International Trade Council, contributing strategic insight and governance expertise. Roger holds a B.Sc in Social Science, Accountancy and Statistics from the University of Southampton and was educated at Alcester Grammar School.

Roger Holland

Howard Bullock

Associate Consultant, Mark Brooks Education

Howard is an experienced school leader with over ten years of experience working in Nigeria, Kazakhstan and Malaysia across both primary and secondary education.

He has also served as a school governor in independent schools in Nigeria and in an academy trust school in the UK.

A qualified teacher of French, German, English and History, he has over twenty years of classroom experience in leading independent schools in the UK (HMC/IAPS) and the Middle East (COBIS/BSME).

He is an effective communicator with broad experience in school development, strategic planning, marketing, human resources and wider aspects of school leadership.

Howard Bullock

Jamie Large

Director, Ardingly College International

Jamie is Director of Ardingly College International, leading the development and delivery of Ardingly’s international schools and educational partnerships worldwide.

He oversees the college’s global strategy for international education, including the establishment of new schools in partnership with like-minded organisations.

Jamie has previously held academic leadership roles within Ardingly College, including Head of Philosophy and Theory of Knowledge and IB Coordinator.

Jamie Large

Tom Scully

Chief Operating Officer, Ardingly College

A chartered accountant and experienced education sector professional, Tom is Chief Operating Officer at Ardingly College, responsible for the school’s non-teaching operations.

He qualified with Deloitte in his native Yorkshire and has held senior roles across schools, universities, academy trusts, government departments, and sector representative bodies.

Tom Scully

Aibek Dossymbekov

General Director, Ardingly Astana

Aibek is an accomplished school leader with degrees in History and Psychology and over a decade of experience in managing and developing schools across Kazakhstan.

He specializes in curriculum design, financial planning, and data-driven school management, ensuring high academic standards and pupil success.

He was trained in the USA and is committed to innovation and creating thriving, supportive learning environments.

Aibek Dossymbekov

Stephane David

Board Director, Ardingly College International

Stephane David leads Business Development and Strategy for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at TiVo. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Ardingly College International and several technology start-ups. His children attended Ardingly College from 2013 to 2023.

With more than 25 years of international leadership experience, Stephane has held senior roles across the media, technology and consumer electronics sectors. During his career, he has worked with companies including Canal+, Liberty Global, Virgin Media, Liberty Latin America and Sky, and served as CEO of Canal+ Benelux.

He holds a Master’s degree in Management from EDHEC Business School and has undertaken further studies at La Sorbonne and IMD Business School.

Stephane David