Barbara Corcoran
Founder, The Corcoran Group | Shark on ABC's Shark Tank | Bestselling Author & Podcast Host
Catherine Ball
Scientific Futurist | Associate Professor, ANU School of Cybernetics | Bestselling Author of Converge & Emerge | Founder, World of Drones & Robotics | XPRIZE Visioneer
Technology does not happen to us; we shape it, and Catherine Ball has built her career at that intersection. The scientific futurist who founded the world's largest drone and robotics congress, bestselling author of Converge and Emerge, and Associate Professor at the Australian National University, she helps leaders see how AI and emerging technologies are converging to reshape industries with strategic intent and human purpose.
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Catherine Ball biography
Catherine Ball is an award-winning scientific futurist speaker, bestselling author, and one of the world’s leading voices on emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, and human-machine collaboration. As an Associate Professor at the Australian National University’s School of Cybernetics, she connects cutting-edge research with practical business application, helping organizations navigate the convergence of technology, humanity, and environmental sustainability.
Ball earned international recognition as founder of the World of Drones and Robotics Congress, established in Brisbane, which grew into the largest event of its kind. Her pioneering work showed how drones and autonomous systems could meet humanitarian and environmental challenges, from tracking endangered species and managing bushfire risk to locating lost hikers. That work named her one of the world’s 50 most renowned women in robotics and helped position Australia as a leader in ethical technology.
Her influence reaches well beyond academia. Ball is the only Australian on the International Advisory Board of the Schmidt Ocean Institute, following her role as a judge for the Ocean Discovery XPRIZE. She is an XPRIZE Visioneer and a member of its Global Brains Trust, advising on breakthrough innovations, serves as a board director for Aviation Australia, and sits on the international advisory board for Ocean Impact Org.
Bestselling Author and Thought Leader
Ball is the bestselling author of Converge: A Futurist’s Insights into the Potential of Our World as Technology and Humanity Collide, which explores how AI, robotics, drones, and biotechnology are merging to create new opportunities. Her book Emerge continues that exploration into the next wave of innovation, including quantum computing and space exploration. Ball’s writing pairs rigorous research with accessible storytelling, making complex ideas clear for business leaders and general audiences alike.
Her academic credentials include a BSc Honours in Environmental Protection and a PhD in Spatial Ecology and Descriptive Statistics from Newcastle University in the UK, plus an honorary Doctor of Science from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. She has been recognized as the National Telstra Business Woman of the Year and as a Financial Review and Westpac 100 Women of Influence honoree.
As a speaker, Catherine Ball brings a rare blend of scientific rigor, entrepreneurial achievement, and storytelling. Her presentations demystify emerging technologies and give leaders strategic frameworks for digital transformation, AI integration, and Industry 5.0. Audiences value her optimistic yet pragmatic view of technology adoption, her emphasis on ethical implementation, and her ability to connect technological change to human purpose and environmental stewardship.
Catherine Ball Speaking Videos
Dr Catherine Ball keynote speaker showreel
Who runs the drones? Girls. | Dr Catherine Ball | TEDxMelbourne
Catherine Ball Keynote Topics
Ball explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping the workplace as machines shift from tools to colleagues. Drawing on current research and real implementations, she examines hybrid roles, AI-driven digital twins, and the transformation of recruitment, talent management, and leadership. Leaders learn how to integrate AI ethically while getting the best from both people and machines, preparing for a workforce where the line between human and artificial intelligence grows increasingly nuanced. The session offers practical frameworks for building cultures where humans and AI systems collaborate effectively.
Based on her bestselling book Converge, Ball shows how the merging of artificial intelligence, robotics, biotechnology, and other technologies creates opportunities for organizations willing to think beyond traditional boundaries. She explains how once-separate innovations now blur industry lines and enable entirely new business models, and how leaders can spot convergence opportunities in their own sectors, build cross-disciplinary teams, and position themselves as those boundaries dissolve. Ball provides practical roadmaps for thriving where physical and digital, human and machine, are increasingly integrated.
Ball presents Industry 5.0 not as a rejection of automation but as an evolution that places human wellbeing, sustainability, and societal purpose alongside productivity. She shows how leading organizations adopt AI and robotics while keeping people at the center of decisions and value creation. Audiences learn how to use automation for meaningful work rather than efficiency alone, build innovation cultures that serve multiple stakeholders, and create durable advantage by aligning technology strategy with purpose. The session is essential for leaders who recognize that lasting success requires technology that serves humanity rather than replaces it.
Ball takes audiences beyond video calls to explore how immersive technologies, digital twins, and advanced communication systems are redefining collaboration. She examines how virtual environments can replicate physical presence, how organizations will manage teams across vast distances, and what that means for leadership, culture, and productivity. Leaders gain insight into emerging collaboration tools, strategies for preparing teams for immersive work, and frameworks for keeping human connection strong as work becomes more digital and distributed.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Catherine Ball
Why Catherine Ball?
Booking Catherine Ball brings a scientific futurist who combines academic authority, entrepreneurial success, and exceptional communication. As an Associate Professor at the Australian National University and founder of the world's largest drone and robotics congress, she offers grounded insight into AI, emerging technologies, human-machine collaboration, and Industry 5.0. Her bestselling books Converge and Emerge have established her as a leading voice on technological convergence, while her work with XPRIZE and the Schmidt Ocean Institute shows real-world impact. Ball does more than explain technology; she gives leaders strategic frameworks for ethical implementation, competitive advantage, and purpose-driven innovation, which makes her invaluable for leadership teams, innovation summits, and organizations navigating digital transformation. Contact Aurum Speakers Bureau to book Catherine Ball for your next conference or leadership summit.
What is Catherine Ball's background?
Catherine Ball holds a BSc Honours in Environmental Protection and a PhD in Spatial Ecology and Descriptive Statistics from Newcastle University in the UK, along with an honorary Doctor of Science from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. After her doctorate she worked on environmental monitoring projects worldwide, using emerging technologies such as drones to study wildlife and ecosystems, which sparked her focus on technology that serves humanitarian and environmental needs. She founded several ventures, including World of Drones and Robotics Global and World of Drones Education, and has won numerous business and technology awards, including National Telstra Business Woman of the Year. She works globally, balancing academic roles with entrepreneurship and advisory work.
What is Industry 5.0 and why does Catherine Ball focus on it?
Industry 5.0 is the next step beyond Industry 4.0's emphasis on automation and digitalization. Where Industry 4.0 prioritized efficiency through technology, Industry 5.0 puts human wellbeing, sustainability, and societal purpose at the center of technological progress. Ball champions this shift because it aligns technology with environmental protection and social equity, values that run through her career. Her idea of Gaian cybernetics, how people, technology, and environment work together to solve problems, captures the philosophy. She shows how organizations can harness AI, robotics, and other technologies while preserving human dignity, creating meaningful work, and protecting natural systems, and argues that the most successful organizations will be those that adopt technology with purpose.
What topics does futurist speaker Catherine Ball cover?
Futurist speaker Catherine Ball specializes in artificial intelligence and the future of work, human-machine collaboration, emerging technologies including drones and robotics, Industry 5.0 and purpose-driven innovation, digital transformation strategy, diversity in STEM, environmental technology, the convergence of AI, biotechnology, and quantum computing, ethical technology deployment, and the future of remote collaboration. Her keynotes help organizations prepare for AI-augmented teams, navigate the ethics of emerging technology, and build innovation cultures, making her well suited to technology conferences, leadership summits, and innovation forums. Contact Aurum Speakers Bureau to discuss how Catherine Ball can tailor her presentation to your organization's challenges.
How to book Catherine Ball as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Catherine Ball as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Catherine Ball's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Catherine Ball or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Catherine Ball speaking fee?
Catherine Ball speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Catherine Ball to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Catherine Ball.
How can I contact Catherine Ball?
We only work with Catherine Ball on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Catherine Ball and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Catherine Ball speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Catherine Ball for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Catherine Ball for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Catherine Ball is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Catherine Ball for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
