Dr Catriona Wallace
Dr Catriona Wallace has been recognised by the Australian Financial Review as the Most Influential Woman in Business & Entrepreneurship.
Catriona is an expert in the field of Artificial Intelligence and the Metaverse and is an Adjunct Professor, keynote speaker and Founder of the Responsible Metaverse Alliance. Catriona is also the co-author of the book Checkmate Humanity: the how and why of Responsible AI.
As the founder of one of the first Artificial Intelligence companies to list on the Australian Securities Exchange, Catriona has truly lived the life of an entrepreneur and CEO in the emerging technologies field. Indeed, Flamingo AI was the second only woman-led (CEO & Chair) business ever to list on the Australian Stock Exchange.
Based on her extensive experience in AI and emerging technology Catriona delivers keynote speeches globally on topics including Artificial Intelligence, Web3 and the Metaverse, Digital Transformation, Responsible Technology, the Future of Work and Diversity and Inclusion.
Catriona’s experience as one of the rare women leaders in advanced technology means that she is ideally suited to present on these important and topical subjects and does so in a way that is highly accessible, informative, non-technical, engaging and inclusive.
This unique skill set has also seen Catriona invited to Co-Chair Sir Richard Branson's B Team's AI Coalition and be a Director of the Garvan Institute, Gradient Institute and to Chair an AI VC Fund, Boab AI.
Catriona has been achieved Advance Australia’s highest award in Technology & Innovation for Australians working abroad and has been recognised by Onalytica as one of the top AI speakers and Metaverse commentators, globally. Catriona was inducted into the Royal Institution of Australia acknowledging her as one of the country’s most pre-eminent scientists.
With a burning passion for and deep knowledge of Artificial Intelligence and emerging tech such as the Metaverse, Catriona believes that sharing knowledge about the responsible use of technology and is her true path and purpose.
Catriona is also a Mum of five.
Dr Wallace was professional to work with and her presentation was inspirational and engaging and proved to be a highlight of our program for delegates. We wouldn’t hesitate to work with her again on future events.
Director Conferences and Events, Australian Library and Information Association
One of the best presentations that I have seen. Dr Wallace used audience participation and her own personal story as a woman to highlight the challenges and opportunities in the tech industry.
UNSW Business School and Director, AGSM UNSW Business School
Dr. Wallace provided a memorable experience for our first AI Masterclass, engaging the audience from start to finish.
Upward, Hartford
Dr. Wallace is among the most dynamic speakers that have graced our stage at the Auto Insurance Report National Conference in our 22 years.
Chairman, Auto Insurance Report National Conference
Catriona acted as an agent to elevate student voices at the school leaders conference, students felt comfortable in sharing their views on the impacts of future technologies on their learning experience in schools. Catriona is an amazing speaker and highly recommended by Conference delegates.
WA Secondary School Executives Association
My speaking topics...
Web3 and the Metaverse
New Virtual Worlds
We have seen 5 years of tech advancements in the last 12 months, and we now are on the verge of entering new virtual worlds, driven by the emergence of technologies such as augmented reality, virtual reality, mixed reality, internet of things, AI, machine learning, cyber security, blockchain, crypto and NFTs. Web3 will bring a decentralised semantic web and the Metaverse, a fully immersive usually 3D experience, made up of virtual worlds, may overcome problems and scarcity and accessibility for humans.
In this highly engaging and interactive presentation Dr Catriona Wallace discusses the characteristics, benefits and risks of Web3, and the Metaverse.
Key takeaways:
- Market Status update for Web3 and the Metaverse
- Why organisations should have a Metaverse strategy
- Commercial models for Web3 and the Metaverse
- Risks and harms of the Metaverse
- How to get Web3 and Metaverse ready
Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation
AI is the fastest-growing tech sector in the world, driving the digital transformation of both public and private sector organisations. Leaders are asking what is the best way to transform operations to leverage AI and other emerging technologies such as blockchain, IoT, cybersecurity, 5G, Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality? And what role do humans play in a digitised business and economy? The need for this knowledge has been exacerbated by the pandemic. Dr Wallace presents the state of the market for AI and emerging technologies and shares how organisations should think about the Digital Transformation of their current operations and people.
Key takeaways:
- State of the emerging technology market
- Briefing on the AI sector
- Models for Digital Transformation
- How to manage Humans, processes and ethics
- Expected benefits and costs of technology-led transformation
- Future-proofing
Responsible Technology & the role of Ethics
As evidenced in the hit film, ‘The Social Dilemma’ big tech is controlling much of what we consume, read, like and do. But does the technology sector have our best interests at heart? Are the commercial drivers for technology not aligned to individual and society’s values? And who is regulating this largely uncontrolled sector and what can we do about it? In this presentation, Dr Wallace discusses the role of big tech, the good and the bad, and how models of Responsible Technology with Ethics and Human Rights at its core and the rise of the ‘Ethical Leader’ must be the way forward.
Key takeaways:
- The role of Big Tech, AI and Algorithmic Decision Making
- Regulation and control of AI and emerging tech
- Models of Responsible Technology
- Ethics & Human Rights technology Frameworks
- The attributes of the Ethical Leader
The Future of Work
- Human + Machine
- The Dangers of Gender Bias
- Educating for the Future
AI is now the fastest growing technology sector globally, expanding in investment 12-fold over the next 5 years. AI is expected to replace 1.8 million jobs and it will generate 2.3 million jobs in the next 12 months. But whose jobs are these? And how do organisations gear up for having digital employees as well as human employees? Dr Wallace presents a discussion on the Future of Work that is AI-driven where machines augment human workers and automate work functions. Is this all going to be good? What could go wrong? Dr Wallace presents the skills and capabilities that leaders and organisational designers, operations, HR professionals and Educators need to know about the coming of the human+machine era.
Key takeaways:
- State of the AI market
- The changing nature of jobs: AI-augmented and automated work
- Workplace risks through gender bias
- Skills needed for managing the new era of human+machine
- The attributes of an AI & digital savvy leader
- Characteristics of an Ethical Technology Leader
Watch me...
Diversity & Inclusion
- Women in Leadership
- Gender Bias in Code
- Women in STEM
- The Heroine’s Journey
- Learning Consent (teaching sexual consent and other consent models)
Dr Catriona Wallace shares her story of being a leader of an Artificial Intelligence company in the US and Australia, seeking investment and being one of the few women leading a Listed technology company. Catriona, using humour and real-life examples, will share her experiences and unconventional ways of navigating difficult environments in order to achieve her goals, including raising her five children along the way. Dr Wallace draws on the broad field of Diversity and Inclusion to create bespoke presentations that will align with your brief, audience and organisation.
Key takeaways:
- Models for Women in Leadership and in STEM
- How to program and/or code ethically
- The Heroine’s Journey model – navigating women’s career experiences
- Models for Women of Power and the Good Men who support them
- Technical training in sexual consent and other consent models
Watch me...
See me...
https://odemanagement.com/catriona-wallace-speaker#sigProId53c8df36e6
Reset The Machines
February 8th 2022 Dr Catriona Wallace explores the intersection between artificial intelligence and minority groups, including women. She recognizes the need for women to break into traditionally male-dominated spaces such as artificial intelligence, and… Read more +
Dr Catriona Wallace speaker keynotes on Responsible Technology & Sustainability
July 12th 2021 Dr Catriona Wallace is a leading authority in the field of customer experience and AI, and the founder of Ethical AI Advisory. She is also a strong advocate for sustainable… Read more +
Fin-services look to AI to solve pandemic related organisational issues
October 7th 2020 On the back of the pandemic, we have seen the financial services sector fare better than most others however it has also gone through a significant disruption to its workforce.… Read more +
Checkmate Humanity: The how and why of Responsible AI
AI is changing the way individuals, organisations, governments and society work and live. But will AI be ethical and how responsible will it be? And what does this even mean? Checkmate Humanity: the how and why of responsible AI sets out to answer these questions and maps the potential harms that AI may cause from individual harms right through to full existential risk. We introduce the world’s first taxonomy of AI harms and then offer solutions and recommendations so that we can build a Responsible AI future.
Crisis Leadership: Bushfires + COVID19 - A new model emerges
During the Summer of 2019 Australia was hit by a crisis – the wildfires destroyed 46 million acres of land, 34 people were killed, 1 billion wildlife perished and 6,000 properties were incinerated. In March 2020, just as Australia entered the ‘recovery’ phase of the fires crisis, it was hit by a second crisis, this time a global crisis – enter COVID-19. As Australians we now know what a crisis looks like, what it smells like, what it feels like. It’s like a war zone. So, we are in a crisis of the most extreme kind and the question on many minds is - who are the Crisis Leaders and what should they be doing?
Ethics, diversity key as AI takes hold
Westpac’s Emma Ringland interviews Flamingo AI’s Catriona Wallace on trends in AI. Catriona has a blunt message for organisations: don’t wait for governments to dictate ethics frameworks to govern artificial intelligence and tackle diversity challenges that flow from its increasing use.
Artificial intelligence isn't scary
Artificial intelligence isn't scary, says the founder and CEO of Flamingo AI. But, as she details in the March 2019 issue of Quantas Magazine, ethics have never been more important.