The blooloop 50 Museum Influencer List 2025

Nick Appelbaum is the president of Ralph Appelbaum Associates (RAA), a multidisciplinary firm specialising in the planning and designing of museums, exhibits, educational environments and visitor attractions. RAA is recognised for creating compelling experiences that blend architecture, storytelling, and technology. It has designed numerous high-profile museums, visitor centres, and cultural institutions worldwide.

As president, Appelbaum continues the firm's legacy, established by his father, Ralph Appelbaum, who founded the company in 1978. Under his leadership, RAA focuses on creating meaningful, educational, and engaging experiences for the public, often working on projects involving history, science, culture, and the arts.

The firm's projects have included institutions like the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the American Museum of Natural History, and many others. Appelbaum's role involves overseeing the creative and strategic direction of the firm, ensuring the quality and impact of its designs, and fostering innovation within the team.

At the NEXTIN Summit in Madrid in 2024, he spoke about the importance of story and its position at the heart of successful museums: “Narrative museumsprovide a special type of learning," he said, adding: “There’s a beautiful alchemy that public spaces foster, which gives them a unique currency in society...The most powerful tool we have to dazzle and inspire isnarrative design.”

One nominator said: "Nick grew up inside the practice and later, just after university, joined it; he is now the president and is guiding it into the middle decades of the 21st Century with curiosity, passion, and creativity.

"Nick understands both the mechanics and philosophical intent of cultural projects and has a special interest in pioneering new approaches to learning in public. He is a thoughtful and considerate leader who supports the growth and development of the entire global interdisciplinary team."

Shraddha Aryal is executive vice president of exhibitions at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, where she plays a key role in shaping the exhibitions programme.

One person who nominated Aryal said: “As a key stakeholder in the realization of the museum, she worked closely with Renzo Piano Building Workshop, WHY Architecture, and Gensler to integrate curatorial vision, architectural intent, and public engagement. The result is a museum that redefines how audiences experience cinema history – immersive, inclusive, and emotionally resonant.”

Before joining the Academy Museum, Aryal served as head of exhibitions at Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art in Doha, Qatar, producing landmark retrospectives of Dia Azzawi, Mona Hatoum, Shirin Neshat, and Wael Shawky.

Earlier in her career, she worked as a designer at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, contributing to exhibitions such as Picasso Black and White, John Chamberlain: Choices, and Lee Ufan: Marking Infinity.

Aryal “is a leader who brings clarity, inclusivity, and strategic depth to the field of exhibition design”, the nominator added. “Through her work at the Academy Museum and beyond, she is helping redefine what museums can be – platforms for storytelling, discovery, and connection.”

Jake Barton is the founder and chief creative officer of Local Projects, a renowned experience and exhibit design company that engages audiences with storytelling through innovative design.

The multi-disciplinary design studio is celebrated for its cutting-edge work that evokes emotional responses. It leverages the team's expertise in experience design, creative technology, project management, and operations to develop and deliver top-tier, innovative projects worldwide.

The studio’s combination of creative technology and physical design produces impactful signature moments that engage visitors in memorable ways.

Notable projects include the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, which Barton has discussed in his TED Talk ‘The museum of you’; the London Mithraeum; the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum; and the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Local Projects has earned numerous prestigious awards, such as the Cannes Gold Lion, Fast Company’s Design Studio of the Year, Best Design in North America Awards, the National Design Award, and the American Alliance of Museums' Overall Excellence in Exhibitions.

Barton is also an Emerson Collective Climate Fellow. The Emerson Collective Fellowship supports visionary individuals in pursuing intellectual, creative, and professional goals. Members of the Climate cohort initiated projects that utilised their deep expertise to contribute to a more abundant and sustainable future.

At the 2025 NEXT IN Summit, he spoke about the power of storytelling and how it can influence audiences and create experiences to "catalyse meaningful action and bring attention to the climate crisis."

Barton founded Local Projects in 2002. Before this, he worked as a 3D Designer/media designer at Ralph Appelbaum Associates, where he created interior architectural environments and media experiences for clients such as the AMNH/Biodiversity, the Intel Museum, the Museum of American Folk Art, the UNICEF Visitors Centre, and 50 years of Globo at OCA/São Paulo, among others.

He holds a master’s degree in interactive technology from New York University and a bachelor’s degree in performance studies from Northwestern University, Chicago.

Marjan Faraidooni is chief of education and culture and chief human resources officer (CHRO) at Expo City Dubai, a future-centric, sustainable mini-city that builds on the legacy of Expo 2020 Dubai.

The city is a model for a sustainable and innovative urban community. Faraidooni oversees education and public engagement initiatives, activating key legacy assets and delivering programmes that realise the city’s impact-driven vision. Many of these programmes are designed to raise environmental awareness, inspire action on biodiversity and climate issues, and foster personal connections to global challenges.

She has a firm belief that cities are more than just physical spaces, that they come alive through stories, culture, and education. This underpins all of her projects, ensuring each one leaves not only a tangible legacy but also a lasting emotional and cultural impact.

With over two decades of experience working in academic institutions and government organisations in the UAE, Faraidooni has held roles spanning strategy, education, experience development, and human resources.

She previously served as director of legacy and chief experience officer at Expo 2020 Dubai, where she was responsible for developing the legacy strategy, enhancing visitor experience, and curating, developing, and managing cultural exhibitions focused on sustainability and culture.

Her project portfolio includes one of the most significant youth engagement initiatives at a World Expo, demonstrating her dedication to empowering individuals, especially young people, through innovative leadership and engagement programmes. This emphasis on people-centred leadership led her to take on the key role in managing Human Resources during Expo 2020, and she continued in this capacity as the event evolved into a city.

Faraidooni's experience also includes roles at Dubai Holding and the Executive Office of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. She earned a master’s degree in public health and a bachelor’s in human physiology from Boston University.

Phillip Ihenacho is director of The Museum of West African Art ( MOWAA ) in Benin City, Nigeria.

MOWAA is an independent, non-profit organisation devoted to preserving heritage, increasing knowledge, and celebrating West African arts and culture.

It was established as a catalyst for strengthening links between contemporary arts and the rich cultural heritage of West Africa, creating opportunities for African and Diaspora artists and scholars.

Situated in the centre of Benin City, the MOWAA Campus is a network of buildings and public spaces created to nurture, inspire, and showcase creatives, artists, scholars, and cultural practitioners The MOWAA Institute will be the first of its building to open to the public, and provides 48,000 square feet of space for archaeological research, conservation, art storage, and public programmes.

Founded in 2020, the organisation's key achievements to date include the MOWAA Archaeology Project, one of the first locally-led commercial archaeology projects in Nigeria; a landmark four-year partnership with the British Museum to advance heritage management and archaeology in Nigeria; and the establishment of a Digital Heritage Lab to spearhead the digitisation of Nigerian artefacts, including initiatives focused on Ancient Benin such as Moats Mapping and the Plaques Corpus; among many other notable initiatives.

In addition to his work at MOWAA, Ihenacho is a financier and supporter of arts and nature projects, and has more than two decades of experience in corporate finance, consulting, and operations.

He is a partner at Amaya Capital, a principal investment business focused on projects and businesses in Africa with the potential to become impactful, large-scale, platform enterprises through development and/or acquisition opportunities.

He is also a board member and founder of the nature conservation organisation Africa Nature Investors (ANI) Foundation, and is also an ambassador for the Tusk Trust, a UK-based conservation organisation.

Ihenacho's previous experience includes serving as CEO of UBA Capital Europe Ltd (formerly Afrinvest UK) and working at McKinsey & Company in New York, London, Stockholm and Johannesburg.

He was awarded a Doctor of Law from Harvard and a degree in history from Yale University.

Lynn Kiang is a creative director and educator, and co-founder of Dome Collective, a multidisciplinary design studio that focuses on experience design, graphic design, and built environments.

“As the creative force behind Dome, Lynn leads interdisciplinary teams that craft immersive, interactive, and emotionally resonant exhibitions,” says one person who nominated Kiang.

“A recent and career-defining project is the newly opened National Medal of Honor Museum, where Lynn and her team designed and produced 31,000 square feet of interactive and linear media. In partnership with Redglass Pictures, G&A Strategy and Design, and kubik maltbie, the exhibition honors stories of courage and sacrifice with dignity and innovation—bringing visitor engagement and historical storytelling into seamless dialogue.”

Kiang previously led experience design teams at SYPartners, collaborating with strategists and company leaders to transform their brands. She also worked as a designer at Local Projects, where she managed graphic, interaction, and media design for museums and cultural institutions.

Her work has garnered numerous awards and recognitions from organisations such as Communication Arts, D&AD, Art Directors Club, Core77, Print Magazine, Type Directors Club, SEGD, ASLA, and AIGA.

Kiang has extensive experience in education and currently serves as a senior lecturer at the University of the Arts London, where her research focuses on interaction design in public spaces.

She was previously program director and assistant professor for the MPS Communication Design graduate programme at Parsons School of Design. Kiang has also been a visiting critic and instructor at Maryland Institute College of Art, Rhode Island School of Design, and the School of Visual Arts.

Additionally, she serves as a juror for SEGD, Art Director Club (ADC), and AIGA Design.

Kiang’s work has been exhibited at prestigious venues including the Cleveland Museum of Art, Museum of the City of New York, National Medal of Honor Museum, Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, 9/11 Museum & Memorial, Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, and San Jose Museum of Art.

Her portfolio includes work for the Gates Foundation, Electronic Arts, Cleveland Clinic, Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, IBM, Drexel University, and the Berkshire Theater Group.

Kiang holds an MFA in Graphic Design from the Rhode Island School of Design, a Certificate of Collegiate Teaching from Brown University, and a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Kristi Paatsi is head of the Kalamaja Museum in Tallinn, Estonia. Founded in 2018, the museum is a vibrant community hub, engaging locals and visitors through workshops, exhibitions and events. Under her leadership, the museum won the Silletto Prize at the European Museum of the Year Awards in 2024.

The Kalamaja Museum started out as a community project, with initial discussions taking place with residents of Kalamaja to form the concept and permanent exhibition of the museum. Many residents of Kalamaja have donated items to the museum and shared stories of their lives for its exhibitions.

Tim Reeve is the deputy director and COO of the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), the world's leading museum of art, design and performance.

Reeve’s strategic and operational overview of all museum activities includes overseeing the divisions responsible for the V&A's commercial and digital efforts, exhibitions, finance and resources, marketing and communications, security, and visitor experience.

Additionally, he is responsible for managing the V&A's collaboration with China Merchants Group, resulting in the opening of the new V&A Gallery at the Design Society in Shenzhen, China. He also directs the V&A's overall international activities strategy.

Reeve served as project lead on the ambitious new V&A East Storehouse in East London, which opened in May 2025. This new location functions as both a working storefor V&A and as a new visitor attraction as part of East Bank, the new cultural quarter in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

The facility invites visitors behind the scenes to explore more than half a million works spanning diverse creative fields, such as fashion, theatre, streetwear, sculpture, design classics, and pop culture pioneers.

Reeve described the V&A East Storehouse as “A completely new cultural experience – and your backstage pass to the V&A, transforming how you access your national collections on a scale unimaginable until now.”

He is also chair of the East Bank Board, which is responsible for delivering the shared vision of the Mayor of London and the East Bank partners over the long term.

Before joining the V&A, Reeve served as director of historic properties at English Heritage, overseeing the National Heritage Collection's 420 historic sites.

A graduate in Ancient History from Royal Holloway, University of London, Reeve also studied at the Institute of Archaeology (UCL) and completed the International Executive Programme at INSEAD.

Since January 2017, Stella Rollig has served as the general and artistic director of the Belvedere in Vienna, Austria. This renowned institution, among Europe's top art museums, features 800 years of art history and key masterpieces from artists like Klimt, van Gogh, and Funke.

Rollig and her team have pioneered a variety of innovative digital media projects that present art in an engaging and playful manner. By incorporating digital innovations such as augmented reality (AR), blockchain, and gaming, they create a connection between tradition and the future.

Under Rollig's leadership, the Belvedere has concentrated on engaging younger, digitally savvy audiences who benefit from innovative formats, continuously transforming perceptions of art and enhancing the visitor experience.

Rollig has contributed to the expansion of the museums sector by organising interdisciplinary conferences at the Belvedere, centred on the digital transformation of art museums, with a focus on art history, media theory, and contemporary topics.

She studied German and art history at the University of Vienna and later worked as an arts journalist for ORF, Der Standard, and other outlets. Between 1994 and 1996, Rollig served as the Austrian Federal Curator for Fine Arts, during which she founded the discussion platform “Depot, Kunst und Diskussion” at MuseumsQuartier Wien. From 2004 to 2016, she was the artistic director of the Lentos Kunstmuseum in Linz and also became the director of Nordico Stadtmuseum Linz in 2011.

Besides her curatorial roles, Stella Rollig has also taught at many institutions.

Dr Mariët Westermann is the director and CEO of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation, overseeing its New York flagship, the Foundation, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice, and collaborating with the directors of Bilbao and Abu Dhabi.

Westermann previously led NYU Abu Dhabi and was Provost at its founding. An art historian, she is recognised as an innovative, empathetic leader who promotes excellence, manages complexity, and emphasises the importance of art, culture, and the humanities in a globalised world.

As CEO, Westermann leads the Guggenheim's strategic vision, overseeing collection, preservation, and interpretation of modern and contemporary art. She connects audiences with the collections and manages both the foundation and the New York museum, acting as chief steward of its key collections, educational programs, and international sites in Europe and Abu Dhabi.

Westermann was formerly the executive vice president at the Mellon Foundation, a faculty member and director at NYU/Institute of Fine Arts, and held roles at the Clark Art Institute and Rutgers. She graduated from Williams College and earned her Master’s and PhD in Art History from NYU. She has received fellowships and grants from the NEH, American Philosophical Society, Clark, CAA, and the Met.

She has written many books, articles, and essays on Dutch art, artists, museums, and higher education. She was the lead curator and catalogue author for 'Art and Home: Dutch Interiors in the Age of Rembrandt' at the Denver and Newark Museums (2001-2002), and was a curatorial consultant and essayist for the National Gallery of Art’s 1996 'Jan Steen: Painter and Storyteller' (in partnership with Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam).

Dr Westermann is a board member of ALIPH – The International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas, the Educational Testing Service, and the Rijksmuseum. She also chairs the Scholar Rescue Fund at the Institute of International Education. In Abu Dhabi, she serves on the boards of AmCham Abu Dhabi and the US-UAE Business Council.