Leadership Team
ACSEP’s work is driven by its Leadership Team—the core group responsible for leading key projects and bringing our mission to life. From organizing events and launching community programs to building partnerships and driving outreach, this dedicated team plays a central role in shaping and executing ACSEP’s initiatives. Their passion, creativity, and commitment ensure that our vision is translated into meaningful impact on the ground.
Amarildo Ceka - Executive Director
Born in Tirana, Albania, Amarildo Ceka moved to the United States to pursue his undergraduate and master’s degrees. During his time in New York, he worked at a hospital and became the first Albanian youth ambassador to the United Nations, advocating for global youth engagement and diaspora inclusion. He later returned to Albania to serve as an advisor to the Minister of Health through the LEAD Fellowship Program, supported by the Albanian-American Development Foundation (AADF). He also completed executive programs in public policy and leadership at Cornell University and Harvard University.
Amarildo is currently a PhD candidate at the University of British Columbia, where his research focuses on how health policies influence population health outcomes.
In his free time, Amarildo is deeply committed to community-building. Since relocating to British Columbia, he has led several community-based studies on the Albanian diaspora in Canada, including a UBC-sponsored demographic mapping of Albanians in BC and research on identity, integration, and youth engagement. He also initiated the development of a business directory and community website, and has organized professional networking events for Albanian youth and entrepreneurs.
He has also led major cultural initiatives, including the public screening of Besa: The Promise in collaboration with Vancouver’s Jewish community, the launch of Albanian Business directory and other programs which support the exceptional Albanian-Canadian community.
As Executive Director of ACSEP, Amarildo serves as a strategic link between the board and the organization’s advocacy, operations, and leadership teams. He remains committed to fostering inclusion, preserving cultural heritage, and promoting long-term community progress.
Gianna Soupouli - Professionals Program Lead
Born and raised in Gjirokastër, Albania, Ms. Gianna Soupouli immigrated to Canada with her family in 2014. She holds a Political Science degree with Distinction, a First-Class Honours in Law and Society, and a Certificate in Canadian Studies from the University of Calgary. She is currently completing a Certificate in Public Participation through the International Association for Public Participation Canada.
Ms. Soupouli began her career in the private sector before joining the Government of Alberta, where she served as a Provincial Assessor in the Ministry of Children’s Services, responsible for certifying early childhood educators. She later transitioned to the Ministry’s legal disclosure unit, managing sensitive child intervention files and supporting various divisions, including Fatality Inquiries, Family Law Courts, Law Enforcement, and Class Action proceedings.
Currently, Ms. Soupouli is part of the External Relations team at Trans Mountain Corporation, which operates Canada’s only pipeline system delivering petroleum products to the West Coast. Her work includes leading public safety campaigns, managing stakeholder engagement initiatives, and promoting safety and regulatory outreach across Alberta, British Columbia, and Washington State. She collaborates closely with diverse stakeholder groups, including Indigenous communities and local governments, to strengthen relationships and promote compliance with Canada Energy Regulator standards.
In addition to her core professional work, Ms. Soupouli has experience in campaign management and fundraising, and remains actively involved in community-building and equity-focused initiatives. She has mentored youth through the Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association and the Institute for Canadian Citizenship, and served on the Board of Edmonton Youth Justice.
Ms. Soupouli currently resides in Vancouver, British Columbia, where she remains dedicated to community leadership, inclusive public participation, and supporting migrant and newcomer youth
Denis Lalaj - Special Projects Lead
Denis was born in the city of Vlore, Albania where he completed all his pre-collegiate education before moving to British Columbia, Canada in 2019. He was offered admission to the Faculty of Applied Sciences at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver under the prestigious Donald A. Wehrung International Student Award where he joined the diverse International Scholars Community of over 150 students from across the world. Denis was admitted to the Computer Engineering major following the foundational first year in the Engineering department.
During his time at UBC, Denis contributed back to the International Scholars Program through the Reach Out mentorship program, as he was assigned to be a Senior Peer for several students who were offered admission under the same award. Denis offered orientation to his Junior Peers on matters such as course planning and registration, on-campus housing, and settling to Vancouver, to ease their transition to a new country. As a member of the First Generation Student Union at UBC, Denis provided technical support with the online platform and tooling used to host the GenOne Conference in 2021 that reached audiences across Canada and the USA. He also held a short-term mentor role with Albanian Trailblazers between June 2023 and October 2024; he connected with students from Albania to advise them on university applications and admissions.
Following his graduation from UBC in May 2024, Denis joined the global open-source pioneer Canonical that builds the Ubuntu Linux Operating System. He is a Software Engineer under the Cloud Engineering department and contributes to building, testing, and publication of Ubuntu cloud images for use by the Linux community, public cloud providers, the Openstack computing infrastructure, and virtualization and containerization tooling across the Linux, Apple, and Microsoft ecosystems.
Ben Meti - Technical Production Lead
Born in Shkodër, Albania, Ben Meti discovered his passion for music at an early age, surrounded by relatives who were local musicians. He began studying accordion at 12 under the guidance of formally trained musicians and, by 13, was already performing at school events, family gatherings, and community concerts. In 1989, he formed his first band with local artists, performing at weddings and other celebrations across northern Albania.
In 1991, Ben immigrated to Toronto, Canada, where he actively participated in Albanian cultural shows. Since relocating to Vancouver in 2005, he has continued his musical journey by performing with a wide range of bands, including Roma Jazz Ensemble, Koro Entertainment, Shlivovica, Karen Flamenco, and Accordion Noir. His diverse musical repertoire spans jazz, flamenco, Balkan folk, and classical genres.
Ben has performed at major venues such as the Queen Elizabeth Theatre and the Shadbolt Centre, and as a solo artist at the Public Salon in 2017. He has trained under master musicians like Lache Cercel, Sergiu Popa, Don Ogilvie, George Feraru, and Maestro Bujar Llapaj. With decades of experience and deep roots in both Albanian and Canadian music scenes, Ben continues to inspire through his artistry and cultural contributions.
Elisa Bruci - Arts Lead
Born in Vancouver and raised in Prishtina, Elisa Bruci returned to Canada to pursue her studies. She graduated from King George Secondary as an honour student, where she was actively involved in student council and served as a peer mentor through the Here4Peers program, delivering mental health presentations to elementary students. Now studying Psychology and Counselling at Simon Fraser University, Elisa is passionate about understanding human behaviour and supporting others through both academic and community-based work.
A lifelong music lover, Elisa has performed in singing competitions and led bands in both Prishtina and Vancouver. At SFU, she continues to nurture this passion as the director and conductor of the SFU Vocal Jazz Choir. Her dedication to community is reflected in her volunteer work—she has delivered engaging science workshops through Let’s Talk Science, contributed to data collection in SFU’s DASH Study, and raised funds for the Special Olympics and No Time for That through her sorority.
She is currently volunteering as a health unit support worker at the American Hospital of Kosovo, gaining valuable clinical experience before returning to Vancouver to continue her studies.
Besim Ibrahimi - Media Lead
Besim Ibrahimi is a dynamic and results-driven bilingual professional with a multidisciplinary background in communications, digital media, sales, and financial services.Originally from Mitrovica, Kosovo, he holds two bachelor’s degrees: one in Mass Communication and another in Management and Informatics, reflecting a solid academic foundation that supports his diverse professional competencies.
With over 15 years of experience in photography, videography, and digital content strategy, Mr. Ibrahimi has successfully led creative initiatives for organizations, brands, and individuals. His expertise includes end-to-end content production, social media management, and digital brand development, with a focus on aligning visual storytelling with strategic objectives.Mr. Ibrahimi also brings a strong track record in sales and client service, having worked extensively with both private and business clientele in high-performance, customer-focused environments. His ability to operate fluently in English and French enhances his effectiveness in multicultural markets and client communications.
Currently based in Canada, he serves as a Financial Services Representative at a national loan agency, where he manages client relationships, oversees financial case assessments, and delivers tailored lending solutions with integrity and precision. His role requires strong analytical skills, regulatory awareness, and a consultative approach to client support.
