Catriona Wallace
Australian businesswoman, TV personality and former police officer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Catriona Wallace (born 1965 or 1966)[1] is an Australian businesswoman, TV personality, and former police officer.[2][3] Her work involves the metaverse, artificial intelligence and the responsible use of technology.[4]
Catriona Wallace | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1965 or 1966 (age 60–61)[1] |
| Education | University of New South Wales (PhD) |
| Occupations | Businesswoman, police officer |
| Television | Shark Tank |
Wallace founded Flamingo AI in 2013 and Responsible Metaverse Alliance in 2022.[4][5] In March 2023, Wallace was announced as one of the new "Sharks" on Shark Tank on Network 10.[6]
Career
Catriona Wallace was born in 1965 or 1966.[1] She joined the New South Wales Police Force at the age of 19, and worked as a police officer in Kings Cross and The Rocks during the 1980s.[1]
After about four years of police work, Wallace left to complete an undergraduate degree in arts as well as a master's degree and a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) at the University of New South Wales in 2007.[1] Her PhD thesis explored the role of technology as a substitute for leadership.[7][clarification needed]
In 2005, Wallace co-founded the company[8] Fifth Quadrant and research organisation ACA Research.
Wallace founded Flamingo AI in 2014.[9] In 2016, it became the second woman-led business to be listed on the Australian Stock Exchange.[9] The company developed chatbots for companies such as Credit Union Australia, Chubb Limited and AMP Limited.[1] Wallace also held the position of the company's chief executive officer until February 2019 prior to the company offloading its assets and its sale to private investors in 2020.[10]
In 2015, Wallace led The Ventura, a co-working space for female-led start-up businesses under three years old with less than $1 million in revenue. To be eligible, companies were required to have a woman as its founder, co-founder or chief executive officer.[11]
Wallace won the business and entrepreneur category at The Australian Financial Review Women of Influence Awards in 2018.[12] Wallace was also inducted into the Royal Institution of Australia.
In 2022, Wallace co-authored Checkmate Humanity: The How and Why of Responsible AI.[13]
Wallace is an adjunct professor at the University of New South Wales' Australian Graduate School of Management and a chair of Boab AI. She was previously a Director of the Garvan Institute, the Gradient Institute and a co-chair of Sir Richard Branson's The B Team.[14][15][16]
In March 2023, Wallace was one of five new Australian "Sharks" announced for a new series of the Shark Tank TV series,[17] a role that she originally declined when first approached, saying "I don't behave like a shark, so no, I don't think it's for me".[18]
Personal life
Wallace is non-binary and gender queer.[19]