Khairat Karibzhanov was born on January 2, 1956, in the Shcherbakul district of the Omsk region (Russia).
He graduated from the Omsk Agricultural Institute with a degree in Mechanical Engineering (1978), and from the Almaty Institute of Political Science and Management with a degree in Political Science (1991). He holds a PhD in Economics (2001).
He began his professional career in manufacturing in 1978.
From 1984 to 1986, he worked as Director of the Burundai Motor Transport Enterprise in the Ili district of Almaty region.
From 1987 to 1989, he headed the industrial-transport and organizational departments of the Talgar district committee of the party in Almaty region.
From 1991 to 2000, at the Ministry of Transport and Communications, he rose from Head of Department to First Vice Minister. He also headed the Transport Inspection of the Republic of Kazakhstan and was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors of the national company “Kazakhtelecom”.
From 2000 to 2006 – Vice President and then President of JSC “Kazakhtelecom”.
He managed privately-owned companies.
From 2006 to 2009 – JSC “Kazinformtelecom”; from 2011 to 2014 – Agrocenter-Astana Holding.
From 2009 to 2011, he worked as Deputy General Director for Production at RSE “Kazakhavtodor”.
In 2014, he was appointed Head of the Technical Secretariat – First Deputy General Director, and in May 2016, was elected General Director of RSE “Kazakhstan Institute of Standardization and Certification”.
From 2020 to November 2022, he served as Assistant to the Member of the Board (Minister) for Competition and Antimonopoly Regulation of the Eurasian Economic Commission (Moscow).
He has completed international training and holds foreign certificates in corporate governance practices, technical regulation, and standardization.
Since November 3, 2023, he has been elected as a member of the Board of Directors, independent director of JSC “Center for Trade Policy Development “QazTrade”.