Raja Gauhar Iqbal serves as Secretary General of the Chess Federation of Pakistan (CFP) and the Chess Association of Punjab (CAP). He contributes to the implementation of chess-in-education initiatives at both national and provincial levels.

Working with the leadership of both federations, he translates policy into practical action through government engagement, programme implementation and grassroots mobilisation.
At the federal level, he has helped advance the Chess in Schools initiative in collaboration with the Federal Education Department, supporting the development of chess rooms in more than 400 public schools.

In Punjab, he contributes to advocacy and implementation efforts to incorporate chess as a twice-weekly sports activity in public schools. The initiative is supported by a network of district chess associations that identifies and trains teachers with chess-teaching skills.

He has also played a key role in securing chess’s inclusion in the Punjab Youth Games for the first time, attracting approximately 8,000 participants from schools, colleges and universities.
With previous experience at Plan International Pakistan in child-centred development, advocacy, communications and capacity building, Raja Gauhar Iqbal brings together expertise in public policy, international coordination and programme development.

His vision is to make chess an accessible, inclusive and sustainable part of school education, nurturing critical thinking, creativity and lifelong learning.

Ramon Chalmeta Ugas is President of the Catalan Chess Federation and has spent more than a decade developing and promoting chess across Catalonia.

Through “Escacs a l’Escola” (“Chess in Schools”), a programme established by the Federation in 2012, chess has been introduced to hundreds of schools, and thousands of educators have been trained to use chess as an educational tool.

During his presidency, Catalonia hosted an International Chess in Education Congress marking the programme’s tenth anniversary.

Ramon Chalmeta Ugas remains committed to advancing chess education and also directly trains school chess coaches in his hometown of Sant Boi de Llobregat.

Anzel Laubscher is a South African Woman International Master (WIM), reigning South African Women’s Chess Champion, international chess educator, and admitted Advocate of the High Court of South Africa, specialising in human rights, sports law, governance, and safeguarding. 
With three decades of experience, her educational work spans sport-specific education, teacher and coach development, curriculum design, and tertiary-level lecturing. 
As a Senior Lead Instructor on the FIDE Chess in Education Commission, she contributes to international instructor assessment and mentorship. 
Author of the FIDE Teachers Curriculum, she champions inclusive, engaging, and accessible chess education, empowering educators to make chess a meaningful learning experience for every child.

Jonathon Quest holds a Doctor of Education in Transformative Learning and teaches doctoral research methodologies.

Dr. Quest has over 15 years of experience helping develop global chess programs, which have generated over $1 million in total funding and in-kind services, serving more than 10,000 students worldwide.

At Webster University, he spearheaded the landmark Chess in Education Minor—the first undergraduate chess degree in the United States, training more than 2,000 future educators across five years. Though the program has since closed, its success set a benchmark for academic chess pedagogy.

Currently, Dr. Quest is developing a new initiative focused on the future of chess in higher education, finishing his upcoming research-based book, Once Upawn a Knight: A Call to Adventure Through the Chess Child's Mind, and continuing his own journey as a lifelong student of the game.

International Grandmaster since 1999, Darmen Sadvakassov is one of Kazakhstan’s most accomplished chess players.

He is the World Junior Chess Champion (U20, 1998) and Asian Junior Chess Champion (U20, 1995), as well as a five-time Kazakhstan National Chess Champion (2001, 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2007). He represented Kazakhstan at four World Chess Olympiads (1998, 2000, 2002, and 2004). In 2025, he won a silver medal at the World Team Blitz Chess Championship as a member of Team KazChess. He is also a winner and medalist of numerous international chess tournaments.

In recognition of his outstanding achievements in chess, he received the Daryn State Youth Award (1999) and was awarded the Order of Kurmet (1998) and the Order of Parasat (2012).

Darmen Sadvakassov is also the Co-Founder and CEO of Chess Legends, an educational initiative dedicated to promoting chess, providing chess education, and developing chess skills.

A Woman Grandmaster since 2020, Gulmira Dauletova is one of Kazakhstan’s leading female chess players, with extensive experience competing on the international stage.

She is a bronze medalist at the World Chess Olympiad (2014). As a member of the Kazakhstan national team, she won bronze medals at the Asian Team Chess Championship (2016) and the Asian Nations Cup (2018). She represented Kazakhstan at seven World Chess Olympiads (2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018) and three World Team Chess Championships (2013, 2015, and 2019).

She is a three-time Kazakhstan National Chess Champion (2007, 2008, and 2010) and the Asian Girls' U18 Chess Champion (2006). She has also won numerous titles and prizes at international chess tournaments.

Currently, she serves as the Executive Director of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, contributing to the implementation of strategic initiatives, the development of chess education, and the promotion of chess throughout Kazakhstan.

Ainagul Sarzhanova holds a Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences degree. She is an expert at the Republican Scientific and Practical Centre for the Evaluation of Educational Content and a member of the Republican Educational and Methodological Council for Primary Education Pedagogy and Methodology.
She has contributed to the development of joint dual-degree programmes with the University of Arizona in Primary Education and Inclusive Practice.
She initiates and develops educational volunteering opportunities for university students, the “Chess Teacher” MINOR program for future teachers, and the “Pedagogical Class” project for schoolchildren in the North Kazakhstan region.
Her professional work focuses on improving the quality of teacher education, introducing modern educational technologies, developing international cooperation, and preparing competitive teaching professionals.

Elmira Avilkhan is a teacher-researcher and primary school teacher with 33 years of experience.
She has been involved in the “Chess in Education” project since 2023.
Since 2024, she has been training primary school teachers in effective ways to integrate chess into the school curriculum.
She is the author of “Chess and Mathematics,” an educational programme designed to develop students’ functional literacy, spatial awareness, and critical thinking skills.

Meruyert Temirova is a teacher-researcher with over 35 years of teaching experience. She has been involved in the “Chess in Education” project since 2023 and is now in her fourth consecutive year of teaching “Chess Fundamentals” in a pilot class.
Since 2025, she has been delivering training courses for primary school teachers as a trainer and methodology specialist for the “Chess in Education” programme. She actively participates in educational seminars and workshops, sharing her experience with early-career teachers.
She is a prizewinner of the national “Ziyatker Ustaz” chess tournament and the winner of the “Best Teacher” category at the KazChess Awards 2026.

Tursynzada Kuangaliyeva is an academic leader with over 20 years of experience in higher education, academic management, and international cooperation.
She is a recipient of the international Bolashak Scholarship and holds an Executive MBA in Sports Management. In 2022, she was awarded the title of Best University Teacher of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Since April 2025, she has served as Rector of the Kazakh National University of Sports, actively developing academic programs, including the Chess Coach specialization, and creating opportunities for the training of qualified chess professionals.
She is the author of over 100 scientific publications and has led numerous international educational and research projects.

Miras Daulenov is a graduate of the international Bolashak Scholarship Program. In 2012, he earned a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Law from the University of Wrocław (Poland).
From 2019 to 2021, he served as Vice Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Since 2024, he has served as President of Coventry University Kazakhstan, actively promoting international academic cooperation, introducing modern educational programs, and contributing to the improvement of higher education quality in Kazakhstan.
He is the author of scientific publications in international law and an expert in higher education and academic research.

An international chess education professional involved in promoting and developing chess within educational settings.
Full biography and professional background to be confirmed by the organisers.

Vladimir Barsky is an International Master, experienced chess coach, and journalist specializing in chess education, teaching methodologies, and the promotion of chess.
He is the author of more than 30 books on chess and prominent chess players, including the “Chess School” educational and methodological series (Years 1–3), which is used in schools across more than 20 regions of Russia.
His professional expertise covers the development of educational materials, methodological support for chess education, and the preparation of chess literature for various levels of learning.
In addition to his writing and coaching career, Vladimir Barsky is actively involved in editing and publishing chess literature, contributing to the development of educational resources and the promotion of chess.

An experienced educator and academic leader with over 30 years of experience in secondary and higher education.

She graduated with honors from Pavlodar Pedagogical Institute in 1995, specializing in Primary Education Pedagogy and Methodology. In 2016, she earned a master's degree from Omsk State Pedagogical University.

Aliya Zhakiyenova began her professional career as a schoolteacher in 1995. She later taught pedagogy at the university level and held various leadership positions in higher education. She also worked at the Pavlodar Regional Department of Education and served as Head of the Innovation Center for Educational Development.

From December 2021 to October 2025, she served as Director of the Academic Affairs Department at Margulan University. Since October 2025, she has been leading the university's Academic Office.
Her professional expertise focuses on academic management, curriculum development, and methodological support for teacher education, contributing to the preparation of future educators and the advancement of pedagogical education in Kazakhstan.