Hillary Spencer

Hillary Spencer, Chief Instigator and co-founder of Agency, is a thought leader in disruptive museum leadership with more than 20 years of experience in exhibitions, visitor engagement, and institutional transformation. She has served as CEO of the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, and at the Children’s Museum of the Upstate. Additionally, she spent over a decade in the traveling exhibitions program at the American Museum of Natural History. Hillary’s work centers on risk-taking, equity, and co-creation, championing diverse narratives and innovative models of leadership. Based in Washington, DC, she is completing a doctorate in Educational Leadership at Xavier University of Louisiana.

Hillary Spencer will be speaking at the MuseumNext Forecast Summit 2025 :

Beyond Best Practices: Disruption and the Future of Museums

In a world of compounding crises, museums can no longer rely on outdated structures or static definitions of success. This presentation invites viewers to explore how disruption can be a starting point, not an endpoint, for meaningful change. Guided by Hillary Spencer, Ed Rodley, and Jennifer Foley, we’ll unpack real-world strategies for rethinking leadership, equity, and visitor experiences from the inside out. Using frameworks like BANI and Cynefin, we’ll examine why “best practices” often fail and how adaptability, experimentation, and shared agency can help museums thrive. Leave inspired, equipped, and ready to disrupt for a better future.