Σίσσυ Λυγνού
President & CEO, AFEA Congress, President, IAPCO, Board Member, Immediate Past President, HAPCO & DES
Born in Athens, Sissi Lignou brings over two decades of dynamic experience in the Meetings & Events Industry. Her professional journey began in 2001 with the Athens 2004 Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games, an experience that sparked her passion for large-scale event organization. In 2004, she joined the family-owned business, AFEA Congress, where she has since risen to the role of CEO and President of the Board, leading one of Greece’s most established Professional Congress Organizers (PCOs). Since 2021, Sissi has deepened her involvement in the global Meetings Industry, driven by a renewed passion and a strategic vision for its future. This personal and professional commitment led to her election to the IAPCO Council in 2021, with re-election in February 2023. In February 2024, she was elected IAPCO President-Elect and formally stepped into the role of IAPCO President at the 2025 Annual Meeting & General Assembly in Taiwan, beginning a two-year term (2025–2027). A dedicated contributor to the industry, Sissi has volunteered with IAPCO since 2010 and has played a vital role in shaping its direction. Nationally, she has been an active leader within HAPCO & DES, Greece’s association of PCOs and Event Specialists, serving on the Council since 2007. She held the role of President for the term 2022–2025 and was re-elected to the HAPCO & DES Board in May 2025, now serving from the position of a Board Member. She is a member of IAPCO Training Academy, and also serves as IAPCO Faculty Member, speaker & mentor for various national and international bodies. Her journey reflects not only a rich professional background but also a profound enthusiasm and advocacy for the Meetings Industry—especially since 2021, when her commitment to its growth and transformation became a central focus of her career.