Aziza Umarova is a thoughtful practitioner who brings regional insight and analysis. Umarova is a regular speaker and author of numerous articles on public governance reforms, including a chapter in the book “Public Service Evolution in 15 Post-Soviet Countries: Diversity in Transformation” (Palgrave, 2021). A former development practitioner with the largest UN agency, her experience includes serving as Advisor on Public Sector Innovation at UNDP’s Global Center for Public Sector Excellence in Singapore. Earlier she led UNDP’s governance portfolio in Uzbekistan. Since 2017, she has devised and delivered numerous public policy projects through her own boutique strategy consulting company SmartGov, working closely with the governments on institutional reforms.