An Algerian national, Lilia Bellahsene earned her BA in foreign languages from the University of Algiers, Algeria. While completing her undergraduate work, she studied at the University of Salamanca in Spain. Before joining ICTJ, she was an Account Manager at Karbo Fonkalsrud, a San Francisco based public relations firm.

While in California, Lilia was the director of the Community Outreach Program for WAFRICA, a grass root organization focused on improving the welfare of African immigrant women in the Bay Area. She also served as a board member for the Algerian American Association of Northern California.