Ilija is representative of the younger generation in mountain guiding. He is actively engaged in alpine climbing, ski mountaineering and mountain biking. A licensed mountain guide according to UIMLA – International Mountain Leader standard since 2014. You can meet him very often on the rocks in the canyon Matka near Skopje, Demir Kapija gorge or ice and mixed routes near Ostri Vrv Peak on Karadzica Mountain near Skopje. With his mountain bike he can be met almost everywhere in the Macedonian mountains.

Ilija is a professor in the Department of Production at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts at Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje. He is president of Macedonian Alpine Climbing Federation.