Albanian Professionals Network
Dr. Odion Kalaci
Odion was born in Erseke, Albania, and emigrated to Windsor, ON in the year 2000. He completed undergraduate studies at the University of Windsor (Biological Sciences with a minor in French Studies) and medical school at Western University in London, ON.
His pediatric residency training was done at BC Children's Hospital in Vancouver, BC, where he fell in love with the city and has remained ever since.
Currently Odion works as a pediatrician in the NICU at BC Children's Hospital and also in his own community practice in West Vancouver. He is an enthusiastic teacher of medical students and resident doctors and has won numerous awards for this. He is also an advocate for pediatricians and is the current President of the BC Pediatric Society.
Outside of work, Odion enjoys traveling (44 countries so far!), outdoors, sports/gym, and spending time with his family and friends.
Mimoza Pachuku
Born in Dibër e Madhe, North Macedonia, Mimoza is a dedicated professional with a B.A. in Political Sciences and an M.A. in Gender Studies from the Central European University in Budapest, Hungary. With over 13 years of experience in project management, fundraising, strategic partnerships, and collaboration, she has passionately led initiatives supporting women's economic empowerment and creating inclusive spaces for racialized communities and youth globally, impacting over 3000 participants.
After relocating to Canada, Mimoza leveraged her experience to empower fellow newcomers by establishing connections with 40+ organizations in Metro Vancouver, and placing them in influential decision-making roles, such as governance boards, committees and advisory councils.
As the Manager of Civic Engagement at MOSAIC, Mimoza plans, leads, develops, and delivers systems and processes which support the efficient and effective delivery of services and programs in the realm of leadership, civic engagement and equity, diversity and inclusion. When she's not working,
Mimoza enjoys reading and having insightful discussions on personal-growth and impact. She also has a passion for dance and exploring new cultures through travel.
Martin Diko
Martin Diko is a versatile full-stack software engineer and technical program manager with a rich background in software design, development, DevOps, and Generative AI. Born in Bilisht, Albania, and having migrated to Seattle, Washington in 2004, he pursued his passion for computer science at the University of Washington Bothell. Martin's academic journey was marked by significant research contributions, notably in network motif detection, involving parallel and cloud computing. His curiosity for learning has earned him various certifications in Generative AI, Sitecore, and program management.
Professionally, Martin has demonstrated exceptional leadership and technical expertise during his tenure at Microsoft, where he currently serves as a Principal Program Manager in the Cloud + AI Division. His adaptability and proficiency in managing complex technical projects has been showcased through his contributions to DikoDev, his own software design and development company focused on modernizing state government applications. His skills in Engineering Standards, AKS, and Site Reliability Engineering have been pivotal in his success.
Martin's journey from Bilisht to Seattle, coupled with his impressive career trajectory, positions him as a role model in the field of software engineering and technical program management. His expertise in AI, DevOps, and software development, along with his leadership qualities, make him an invaluable asset to any professional networking event, especially one focusing on these domains.
Fisnik Kumnova
Fisnik Kumnova is an accomplished professional with over a decade of experience in Alternative Dispute Resolution and Project Management. He holds a degree in Justice Studies from Royal Roads University in Victoria, BC, and is in the process of completing his MA studies in Interdisciplinary Studies. Throughout his career in Canada, Fisnik has played pivotal roles as a project advisor and manager for prestigious institutions, including world-renowned universities, Crown corporations, and societies. As a dedicated professional in the Federal Public Sector, he plays a crucial role in shaping processes and strategies, to assist the needs of the public.
Fisnik's expertise lies in collaborating with diverse stakeholders across various sectors. Beyond Canada, he has made notable contributions to fostering collaboration between parties in Europe and North America. Significant accomplishments include his integral role in the success of the ADR Mediation Centre Mitrovica in Kosovo and active participation in the Bridging the Divide, M-M@G Project—an esteemed online journal covering high-conflict areas.
In addition to his professional achievements, Fisnik is a dedicated advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion, evident in his commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable environment in his professional endeavors. Fisnik brings a comprehensive and inclusive perspective to his work, contributing to successful outcomes in complex and high-stakes environments. He also serves as a Board Director for the Alternative Dispute Resolution Institute of British Columbia (ADRBC) and the Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies (AMSSA) in British Columbia.
Dino Alimanovic
Dino Alimanovic is a seasoned Chartered Professional Accountant and currently a Manager in PwC’s ESG Reporting & Assurance practice. He brings over 7+ years of experience, providing assurance services to public and private enterprises. Born in Germany to Albanian and Bosnian parents, immigrating to Canada in the early 2000’s, he pursued his passion for business by completing his BBA at Simon Fraser University in Accounting. In his current role, he specializes assisting clients in the forestry, oil and gas, energy, mining and cement sectors with Greenhouse Gas Emissions regulatory compliance. Prior to this, he was a Manager in Assurance, with experience executing financial statement audit/review engagements. He has worked with public and private enterprises internationally and in Canada, reporting under IFRS, US GAAP, and ASPE.
Beyond his client service role, he is involved with the Strategic Change Office and leads various national initiatives over ESG upskilling, process standardizations, and change management. He was involved with the digital transformation taskforce in Canada handling large scale national digital upskilling, governance, and developing automations to standardize audit procedures. Driven by a passion for business transformation, Dino also contributed significantly to PwC's Global Business Transformation group. In this role, he played a key part in global assurance product development, implementation, and change management initiatives spanning over 60 territories under the Next Gen Audit initiatives.
He is fueled by a commitment to process improvements, standardization, and scale. He brings a high-energy, pragmatic, and entrepreneurial perspective to his work, making a lasting impact on the organizations and initiatives he engages with.