UKAP Foundation Board of Trustees

Professor Lea Ypi is a scholar in political theory at the London School of Economics and an Honorary Professor at the Australian National University. Her academic excellence has been recognised with the British Academy Prize for Excellence in Political Science and the Leverhulme Prize for Outstanding Research Achievement.  Professor Ypi is a fellow of the British Academy, Academia Europea and the Albanian Academy of Sciences. She is also the author of Free: Coming of Age at the End of History, which has been translated into 35 languages. 

Driton Bilali is a finance professional with experience in global capital markets compliance, having held senior roles at Deutsche Bank and Goldman Sachs. With a Master’s degree from the London School of Economics, he began his career at the Metropolitan Police before transitioning to finance. He now serves as Chief Compliance Officer at Ilex Capital. Having been involved with the UKAP Foundation for many years, Driton is passionate about strengthening social mobility within the Albanian community in the UK through learning, training and mentoring initiatives.

Ella Hoxha is a finance expert with over 20 years of experience in managing fixed-income portfolios, currently serving as Head of Fixed Income at Newton Investment Management. A CFA charterholder, she has worked with leading firms like Pictet Asset Management and Invesco. With a Master's in International Finance and an Executive MBA from the University of Cambridge, Ella is committed to supporting the advancement of the Albanian community through education, mentorship and professional development initiatives.

Gentjan Kapllani is a solicitor specialising in capital markets law, with expertise in structured financial products and over 15 years of experience at institutions, including Societe Generale and Morgan Stanley. Holding dual master’s degrees in Banking and Financial Law and Anglo-American Business Law from the University of Paris I: Pantheon-Sorbonne, he has practiced law in both France and the UK. Gentjan has been actively contributing to the UKAP Foundation as a mentor, supporter of several initiatives, and remains keen on supporting more educational and learning initiatives that support the advancement of the Albanian community in the UK.

Kreshnik Cela is a cybersecurity expert with over 20 years of experience, leading IBM’s Identity and Access Management practice within Technology Expert Labs. With a background in Electronic Engineering and a Master's in Telecommunications from UCL, he works globally to enhance cybersecurity solutions for businesses. Since 1999, Kreshnik has been a dedicated advocate for the Albanian community in the UK, participating in initiatives that promote learning, professional growth and innovation.