Virginie De Visscher is Executive Director of Business Events at Destination Canada and a leading advocate for rethinking the role of business events in society. She champions the idea that business events are more than gatherings, helping drive innovation, support national priorities and accelerate economic, social and environmental progress.

Virginie works across sustainability, economic strategy and destination development, leading national initiatives that position Canada at the forefront of regenerative tourism and impact-driven business events. Her work brings together governments, destinations, industry partners and global organizations to harness the power of business events as catalysts for innovation, investment and long-term community benefit.

With a career spanning international trade, humanitarian operations and leadership across four continents, Virginie combines strategic vision with practical experience. A sought-after international speaker, she regularly shares insights on leadership, sustainability and the changing role of business events. She holds an MA in Agricultural Sciences and Biosystems Engineering from the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium.