Maribel Ibarra Lopez

Maribel Ibarra Lopez has been a transformative force in museums for over three decades, pioneering innovative learning experiences. As CEO of Sietecolores - Ideas Interactivas, she received the ASTC Roy L. Shafer Award, demonstrating her leadership and commitment to quality and community impact.

Ibarra Lopez's career highlights her strong commitment to making science and culture accessible by creating engaging, playful, and interactive spaces. Since she took charge of Sietecolores in 2011, a company founded by Marinela Servitje Montull, she has been key to its growth from a leading Mexican museum development firm to a rising global player. Her unique outlook, developed through extensive experience in both the operational and creative aspects of museum development, has been crucial in successfully completing over 50 museum projects, including permanent, temporary, and travelling exhibitions.

Under her strategic guidance, Sietecolores has expanded from children's museums and science centres to include natural history, site, art museums, and family entertainment centres, driven by her belief in interactive design. Recent projects include overseeing the renovation of a 78,000-square-foot interactive museum in Guadalajara, leading a new sports museum in Panama, finalising the Mexico City Natural History Museum renovation, and guiding a new corporate museum in Mexico City opening in 2025.

Her work's impact extends beyond the variety of projects to include their extensive reach. Over the past decade, Ibarra Lopez's initiatives have impacted more than a million children and adults, transforming over 480,000 square feet of space into lively centres of learning and exploration. Additionally, her efforts have spurred economic growth, generating over 300 jobs in Mexico.

Ibarra Lopez's philosophy centres on collaboration and mentorship. She built a multidisciplinary team at Sietecolores, promoting continuous learning with a unique mentorship program and international engagement opportunities.

Maribel Ibarra Lopez is not just a museum developer; she is a community builder, innovator, and passionate advocate for the transformative power of museums. Leading a vibrant and expanding firm, she exemplifies the forward-thinking, inclusive, and global perspective crucial for the future of the museum industry.