Abigail Bysshe

Abigail Bysshe is chief experience and strategy officer at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, where she leads visitor experience, exhibition development and strategic planning. She previously served as the museum’s vice president of Experiences and Business Development, creating experiences for an audience of nearly one million visitors a year.

Bysshe oversees the acquisition of special and touring exhibitions, including brands such as Marvel, Jurassic World, Harry Potter and Disney. Her responsibilities also include the museum’s experiential and architectural masterplan, customer journey planning and the development of its touring exhibition programme.

Before joining The Franklin Institute, Bysshe worked in the exhibits department at the National Gallery of Art before moving to National Geographic. There, she led travelling and digital exhibition programmes and managed museum partnerships in the US and internationally. She has more than 20 years of experience in museum business strategy and exhibition development.

Bysshe is leading the development of Star Wars: The Experience, an 18,000-square-foot exhibition created by The Franklin Institute in collaboration with MDSX, Lucasfilm and Disney Consumer Products. Scheduled to open in Philadelphia on 13 February 2027, the exhibition will run until 6 September before embarking on a five-year North American tour.

One person who nominated Bysshe said: "Abby can build the business model, secure world-class intellectual property and guide the creative development in a way few leaders can. Her global perspective, fearless curiosity and instinct for what audiences want make her a one-of-a-kind force in immersive entertainment."