Dr. Catriona Wallace is a globally recognised authority in Artificial Intelligence, leadership transformation, and the ethics of emerging technology. Named by the Australian Financial Review as Australia’s Most Influential Woman in Business & Entrepreneurship, as a pre-eminent scientist by the Royal Institution of Australia and as one of the Top Global Power Women by the Centre for Economic Development in the UK, she demonstrates a rare combination of business acumen and visionary insight.
A former Shark on Shark Tank Australia and Adjunct Professor with two PhDs, Catriona is the acclaimed author of Rapid Transformation, which blends ancient ritual, altered states of consciousness, and transformative AI to equip leaders for today’s complex global challenges. She is also the author of Checkmate Humanity, founder of the Responsible Metaverse Alliance and chairs an AI venture capital fund, advising governments, corporations, and global forums on the ethical adoption of emerging technologies.
Drawing on her training in the Shipibo shamanic tradition, Catriona brings a consciousness-based lens to leadership, helping leaders and organisations navigate crises such as AI proliferation, mental health, climate change, and global polarisation. Her work bridges worlds, inspiring audiences to lead with courage, clarity, and expanded capacity in an age of rapid transformation.
Catriona is also the proud mother of six – three biological kids, two step and one adopted.
Talking Points
AI and the Future of Humanity
With the release of Generative AI in November 2022, the world changed forever.AI and the Future of Humanity
Technology’s intelligence and consciousness are advancing at a rate faster than humanity’s, and we must now ask the following questions:
• Is AI technology useful, harmful or both?
• Who is guiding technology and its relationship to humanity?
• Where are we headed?
• Are we okay to passively continue with AI development knowing that it poses an existential risk, on par with nuclear war and pandemics?
• And … given there are no real laws or regulations that govern AI – what can we do?
Furthermore, just as we are getting our heads around this powerful AI technology, we are faced with the imminent arrival of Extended Reality, Metaverse and Quantum technologies.
In this important and highly topical keynote address, Dr Catriona Wallace will discuss: the current state of AI; humanity entering into the early stages of transhumanism; the power and invasiveness of AI and Metaverse worlds – the good and the bad; technology ethics and responsibility; and strategies for how we might direct technology for humanity’s good.
Key topics include:
1. AI and the Metaverse – what are they?Good or bad?
2. Technology vs human intelligence and consciousness
3. The age of Transhumanism, the future of technology and humanity
4. Development moratoriums & re-strategising technology for good
Rapid Transformation: The New Leadership Model for an Age of Crisis
In this keynote, Dr. Catriona Wallace unveils a radically new leadership framework built for today’s volatile world. Drawing on her ground-breaking book Rapid Transformation, she introduces a triadic model: Ancient Ritual, Altered States of Consciousness, and Transformative AI. Through this lens, leaders are empowered to shift rapidly — from reactive to visionary, from burnout to purpose.Rapid Transformation: The New Leadership Model for an Age of Crisis
Key Themes:
• The three pillars of Rapid Transformation
• Initiation, integration, and embodied leadership
• Leading in the face of AI, war, climate collapse, and mental health breakdown
• Shamanic and animist approaches to resilience and collective leadership
Ideal for: Executives, leadership teams, boards, future-focused strategists
Transformative AI: Conscious Technology for Conscious Leaders
AI is not just a tool — it is a transformative force. But will it evolve in the image of our trauma… or our wisdom? In this provocative keynote, Dr. Wallace explores the frontier of Transformative AI — systems designed to catalyse insight, not just efficiency. This talk includes case studies on AI, AI-powered ritual, the 7 Principles of Transformative AI and tools for leaders to align technology with human and planetary flourishing.Transformative AI: Conscious Technology for Conscious Leaders
Key Themes:
• What is Transformative AI?
• Designing AI with ethics, consciousness, and care
• Navigating existential risk with expanded intelligence
• The 7 Principles of Transformative AI
• Tools to lead a Transformative AI practice
Ideal for: Tech and business audiences, AI developers, ethical leadership forums
Leading with Spirit: Ancient Wisdom & Rapid Transformation for Modern Crises
The world faces four converging crises — AI proliferation, climate collapse, mental health breakdown, and polarization — that demand more than strategies; they require transformed leaders. Dr. Catriona Wallace shares how ancient rituals, altered states of consciousness, and her Rapid Transformation framework can expand leadership capacity, deepen ethics, and drive systemic change. Drawing on her Shipibo shamanic training and global leadership work, she reveals practical ways to harness neuroscience-backed ritual and collective wisdom to meet this moment with clarity, courage, and purpose.Leading with Spirit: Ancient Wisdom & Rapid Transformation for Modern Crises
Key Themes:
• Ancient ritual and altered states as tools for transformative leadership
• Responding to the four global challenges with expanded ethics and resilience
• Collective healing and regenerative systems thinking for complex times
Ideal for: Cross-sector leadership summits, HR and leadership development, global forums, and transformational events
Video
Artificial Intelligence: The How and the Why? | Dr Catriona Wallace at Curious Thinkers 2022
Artificial Intelligence is the fastest growing tech sector in the world, valued at US $327 bn in the last 12 months. Dr Catriona Wallace will share best practices in Responsible AI as well as sharing some super useful case studies. And most importantly Dr Wallace will discuss how you can step into being an Ethical Leader.Meet Catriona Wallace | Shark Tank Australia
Meet 1/5 of the new sharks this season, Catriona Wallace, an AI expert and founder of the Responsible Metaverse AllianceCatriona was a pleasure to work with both before and during the conference. She drew on personal examples that resonated with the audience and used clear, simple language to explain the comp ... keep reading National Council for Fire and Emergency Services
Catriona is the real deal in innovation and business today. She provides invaluable insights and brings her real-life experience and intelligence to the discussion.
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. We would certainly ask Dr Wallace to present again at any of our future events to students and alumni.
Catriona has made a valuable contribution to CUA as both as a partner and as an educational speaker.
Catriona Wallace provided a memorable experience for our first AI Masterclass at Upward Hartford. Dr. Wallace engaged the audience from start to finish, encouraging active participation throughout the session and inspiring direct collaboration among participants. The content was informative & accessible for all levels of industry knowledge and experience, which is especially important for a hub such as ours that attracts tech experts, students & entrepreneurs across industries. We so look forward to welcoming Catriona back for future sessions!
Dr Catriona Wallace was a drawcard for our Conference. She had the full room engaged from the start and it was clear from all of our feedback the topic resonated with our delegates.
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.
Dr. Wallace is among the most dynamic speakers that have graced our stage at the Auto Insurance Report National Conference in our 22 years.
A highlight of the afternoon. We were all inspired by Catriona's wisdom on so many issues. Australia needs hundreds more inspirational leaders like Catriona for our future.
