Description

Our WIBA luncheon is a great time to network with other like-minded business leaders, enjoy a buffet lunch and hear from local speakers.

This month, come hear what's been happening at Exploration Place from Adam Smith.

Born and raised in the UK, Adam obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Modern History from the University of Leeds, England and a Master's degree in Museum Studies from the University of St. Andrews, Scotland.

He worked in World War I, farming, golf and coal mining museums, before being appointed in 1995 to lead Scotland’s National Museum of Flight, located on a historic World War II airfield near Edinburgh. During his tenure the Museum saw a five-fold increase in attendance and received the country’s highest accolade for excellence in tourism. In 1998 Adam was invited to Buckingham Palace to be honored as a “Young Achiever” by the Queen of England. In 1999-2001 he curated the first international touring exhibit on the history and culture of video games.

Adam came to the United States in 2001 to run the EAA AirVenture Museum, a world-class facility in Oshkosh, Wisconsin that houses over two hundred historic aircraft. He was also responsible for programming EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, the world’s largest air show, with over 700,000 annual attendees.

From 2013 to 2017 Adam was Executive Vice President with the Commemorative Air Force, the world’s largest flying Museum, operating 170 vintage military planes. While there he spearheaded a $4.5 million campaign to save and restore That’s All Brother, the lead aircraft in the D-Day invasion. From 2017 to 2019 Adam headed the Comic-Con Museum located in Balboa Park, San Diego, and associated with the world’s largest pop culture convention.

In November 2019 he moved to Wichita to become President/CEO at Exploration Place. Smith is an instrument-rated pilot, collector of pinball machines and an avid fan of his soccer team, Burnley. He lives in Rose Hill.