PeopleofSuperintelligence

Researcher

Catriona Wallace

Catriona Wallace is an AI entrepreneur and ethicist whose work spans conversational AI products and public work on responsible technology. After serving in the New South Wales Police Force, she completed a PhD at the Australian Graduate School of Management on technology's role in leadership and built Flamingo AI's virtual assistant for financial-services customers. She co-authored Checkmate Humanity, co-chaired The B Team's AI Coalition, founded the Responsible Metaverse Alliance, and joined Shark Tank as a presenter and investor. Her 2025 book Rapid Transformation outlines three pillars for creating leaders, and UNSW awarded her an honorary Doctor of Business for her work in technology ethics and responsible technology. As of October 2026, she chairs Boab AI and is an Adjunct Professor at AGSM, UNSW.

Now at
Boab AI and UNSW Sydney
Badges

Timeline

  1. 1985–2007

    Police work and a PhD

    She serves in the New South Wales Police Force from 1985 to 1989. At the Australian Graduate School of Management, she completes a PhD in organisational behaviour in 2007 on technology substituting for human leaders.

  2. 2013–2020

    Flamingo AI virtual assistants

    She starts Flamingo AI in 2013 and launches it in 2014, building a virtual assistant that guides financial-services customers through online product applications using natural-language processing and machine learning. The company lists on the ASX in 2016 and sells to private investors in 2020.

  3. 2021–2023

    Co-chairing an AI coalition

    From 2021 to 2023, she co-chairs The AI Coalition at The B Team Australasia and calls for company leaders to learn about AI as it becomes mainstream.

  4. 2022

    A book on responsible AI

    She co-authors Checkmate Humanity: The How and Why of Responsible AI in 2022. Its contributors examine risks from unconstrained AI and propose guidelines for organisations that develop and deploy AI.

  5. 2022

    The Responsible Metaverse Alliance

    In 2022, she founds and launches the Responsible Metaverse Alliance. It works with policymakers and law enforcement to promote a safe and responsible metaverse.

  6. March 2023

    A Shark Tank role

    She joins Shark Tank as a presenter and investor in March 2023.

  7. 2025

    An honorary business degree

    She publishes Rapid Transformation in 2025, outlining three pillars for creating new leaders. UNSW awards her an honorary Doctor of Business for her work in technology ethics and responsible technology.

  8. As of October 2026

    Chairing an AI venture fund

    As of October 2026, she chairs the Boab AI venture fund and serves as an Adjunct Professor at AGSM, UNSW.

Career

  1. NowBoab AIChair
  2. NowUNSW SydneyAdjunct Professor
  3. From 2022Responsible Metaverse AllianceFounder
  4. 2021–2023The B Team AustralasiaCo-chair of The AI Coalition
  5. 2013–2020Flamingo AIFounder
  6. 1985–1989New South Wales Police Force

Education

  1. 2007UNSW SydneyPhD

From the biography.

  1. 14% of AI doctorate holders from 2010 to 2016 founded or led a company or lab by 10 years after graduationIncludes Catriona Wallace. We estimate how often AI doctorate holders founded or led a company or lab by 10 years after their doctorate, and how the timing changed across cohorts.
  2. The company share of AI researchers’ top papers rose from 2% to 32%Includes UNSW Sydney. We estimate where leading AI researchers worked when their most-cited papers appeared. The company share rose from 2% in 1975–1979 to 32% in 2020–2024.
  3. Stanford University trained or employed 26 of the 108 AI major-prize winners, more than any other universityIncludes UNSW Sydney. Stanford University trained or employed 26 of the 108 AI major-prize winners, more than any other university. We compare doctorate and employment links for major-prize and best-paper winners.
  4. Google had the most people shaping AI every year from 2014 to 2025Our estimates of which organizations employed the most people shaping AI from 1961 to 2025, with a year-by-year chart.

Sources and credits

Photo: We have no published photo of Catriona Wallace yet. Send us a free-licensed photo.

  1. Dr Catriona Wallace is pushing Australia towards ethical AI qantas.com. Checked 18 October 2026.
  2. AI Ethics & Responsible Tech - BoabAI, Dr Catriona Wallace (ArteHouse Innovation Series with Ali & Tim) buzzsprout.com. Checked 18 October 2026.
  3. Catriona Wallace on how psychedelics create better leaders forbes.com.au. Checked 18 October 2026.
  4. Checkmate Humanity: The How and Why of Responsible AI books.google.com. Checked 18 October 2026.
  5. Philanthropy - Dr Catriona Wallace drcatrionawallace.com. Checked 18 October 2026.
  6. Celebrating excellence: UNSW awards five honorary degrees inside.unsw.edu.au. Checked 18 October 2026.
  7. About - Dr Catriona Wallace drcatrionawallace.com. Checked 18 October 2026.
  8. Dr Catriona Wallace dayone.fm. Checked 18 October 2026.