Nurkhat Zhakiyev (M.Sc. in Mathematics, Ph.D. in Physics) is a computer modeler of energy systems and climate change mitigation analyst. He is the Director of the Department of Science and Innovation, Astana IT University (Kazakhstan), and supervisor of several research projects on modelling the energy system of Kazakhstan and integration of renewables. He is an expert in energy systems analysis and modelling, energy- environmental policy assessment, sustainable development and Smart Cities. He is the author of several papers published in international journals and a reviewer for many ISI journals.