Debbie van der Beek is the President and Chief Visionary Officer of Ignite and Adrenalin magazines. A passionate advocate for Canada’s business events industry, Debbie launched Ignite from her basement in 2008 while on maternity leave, recognizing a gap in resources that truly supported and celebrated planners. Since then, she has grown Ignite into a multi-platform resource that educates, inspires, and champions planners across Canada. She also launched Raindrops and Roses during the pandemic to uplift the industry when it needed it most, and most recently spearheaded the Worth It: Stand Up For Business Events initiative to spark needed conversations and call for real change to elevate the industry. With more than 25 years in the industry, Debbie is known for dreaming big, pushing boundaries, and believing fiercely in the power of planners as “magic-makers.” She lives by the motto: “You win or you learn.”