by Alla Zemlyanskaya, Head of Customer Success at Tangl
On January 28, 2026, the first Women in BIM community meeting in Kazakhstan took place in Almaty. The event marked an important step in establishing a local professional dialogue around BIM, digital technologies and the development of human capital in the region.
BIM in Kazakhstan today
BIM in Kazakhstan is currently undergoing a phase of active and deliberate growth. The industry is steadily moving from isolated pilot projects toward a more systematic adoption of digital tools, supported in part by the Construction Industry Digitalization Plan for 2026–2027. This strategic document defines BIM as a means to improve transparency, manageability and construction quality, as well as a foundation for more effective collaboration between all project stakeholders.
At the same time, the regulatory framework continues to evolve and alignment with international approaches and professional standards is strengthening. The market demonstrates a practical and mature interest in BIM: companies and specialists increasingly see it not only as a technology, but as an opportunity to build sustainable processes, clarify roles, and support long-term professional development. Active professional communities, growing interest in education and certification, and a strong culture of experience sharing together create favorable conditions for the further development of the BIM ecosystem in Kazakhstan.
Building a local community in a global context
The meeting was opened by Alla Zemlyanskaya, who introduced Women in BIM as an international professional community uniting specialists worldwide around inclusive growth, technological development, and the exchange of practical experience. A welcoming address was delivered by Alexander Semizhon, Business Development Director for Autodesk in Central Asia, who highlighted the role of professional communities as one of the key drivers of sustainable digital transformation in the construction industry.
From the very beginning, it became clear that the event resonated strongly with the audience. Attendance exceeded the organizers’ expectations, confirming both the relevance of the topic and the demand for regular professional BIM-focused meetings in Kazakhstan.
Career development and practical tools
The program was structured around applied aspects of career development and professional competencies. Ekaterina Lee (KazGor), in her presentation “How to Build a Career in BIM,” outlined possible career paths in the industry and emphasized the importance of combining technical expertise with project experience and an understanding of business processes.
Continuing this theme, Alla Zemlyanskaya presented the BIM Competency Map as a tool for both career development and team formation. The audience showed strong interest in the practical use cases of this Power BI interactive tool: as a skills and roles navigator for specialists planning their career paths, and as a reference framework for managers and organizational leaders when assembling and developing project teams.
Management, leadership and regulatory changes
A dedicated section of the program focused on leadership and management in the context of digital transformation. Alexandra Bekisheva, CEO of KGNT, shared the company’s business success story, placing particular emphasis on strategic thinking, team development and the consistent integration of digital technologies into operational processes.
The series of presentations concluded with Zarina Kabzhan, Vice Chair of buildingSMART Kazakhstan and Director of the Science and Digitalization Center at JSC “KazNIISA.” In her talk, she addressed the role of women in managing teams and technologies, provided an overview of key updates to Kazakhstan’s regulatory documentation and presented the localized version of the buildingSMART Professional Certification Program. She highlighted its importance in establishing unified professional standards and achieving international recognition of specialists’ competencies.
A dialogue on education and the future of the industry
The culmination of the business program was a panel discussion dedicated to BIM education, moderated by Zarina Kabzhan. The discussion focused on aligning educational programs with real industry needs, preparing specialists for digital transformation and defining the role of professional communities in building a sustainable and practice-oriented knowledge ecosystem.
Looking ahead
The first Women in BIM meeting in Kazakhstan demonstrated the strong potential of the local professional community and a clear readiness among specialists to actively participate in the development of the industry. After the formal program, participants continued discussions in an informal setting. According to the feedback received, this live professional interaction proved to be one of the most valuable elements of the event, alongside the expert presentations and panel discussion.
Open dialogue, experience sharing and the formation of new professional connections highlighted the core value of Women in BIM as a community where knowledge, support and partnership are built not only on stage, but through meaningful interaction between participants.
The feedback collected during and after the meeting has laid the groundwork for future steps, including the development of the local WIB chapter, the launch of new online and offline formats, and initiatives aimed at supporting career growth, developing competencies, and strengthening the BIM ecosystem in Kazakhstan.
