Building Sustainability into Business Events

Virginie De Visscher
Acting Executive Director, Business Events
Destination Canada

Virginie joined Destination Canada Business Events in 2017 with a tenacious determination to reimagine how the country attracts business events to its destinations. As Senior Director, she leads a team of sectoral and sales experts to advance the organization’s economic sector strategy — which focuses on growing the country’s share of global conferences within its six priority sectors.

Roger Lehner
Senior Operations & Sustainability Executive
IMEX

Roger is Senior Operations & Sustainability Executive at IMEX Group. He makes sure sustainability is considered in everything IMEX do. Over the years, his multi-stakeholder approach as well as innovative initiatives such as #GreenCaffeine, the Refill Movement and promotion of sustainable food options, have helped IMEX make continuous incremental gains in its already very high waste diversion rate. Roger now plays a huge part in IMEX’s Net Zero contribution.

Roger is a member of the EIC Sustainability and Social Impact Committee and the AEO Sustainability Working Group. His approach to sustainable business practices is influenced by previous experiences at World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Alternative Bank Switzerland, a financial institution built on social and ecological values.

Outside IMEX, Roger enjoys nature and gardening, as well as coffee and cake, either homemade or from one of Brighton’s many fantastic cafes.

Mariela McIlwraith
President
Meeting Change

Meeting Change is a business consultancy specializing in integrating business strategy with social and environmental sustainability in the meetings and events industries, Mariela is also an.Executive Consultant for the Event Industry Council’s Centre for Sustainability and Social Impact.