Dr Catherine Ball is a businesswoman with a focus on environmental science and technology. Ball is currently operating a number of start-up companies and is an advisor to many start-ups. She is an Associate Professor at The Australian National University and Honorary Associate Professor at the 3AI Institute. Ball was named the 2015 Telstra Queensland Business Woman of the Year award for this line of innovative work in a corporate paradigm.Ball is a board director for Aviation Australia; and is on the international advisory board for the , a not-for-profit ecosystem for businesses working towards a healthier ocean. Ball has worked with drone technology, and her team operated a drone that could fly hundreds of kilometres. They flew it off the west coast of Australia to study and track turtle habitats. During this 'voyage' they found endangered animals that had not been seen for years. Working globally across a wide range of projects from creating documentaries and world leading conferences and events, to advising on the use of novel approaches across environmental and humanitarian projects, Ball is a proponent of community engagement with STEM, and likes to demystify emerging tech. Ball identifies as a representative of women in STEM. She is the 2020 Patron for the ', a #SheFlies ambassador for Girl Geek Academy, and a mentor and advisor to the CEO of New York based Women Who Drone, as well as a mentor to the #SuperstarsofSTEM project by Science and Technology Australia.
Personal Life
Ball was born in Coventry, England, however considers herself an Aussie-at-heart, due to the 'amount of work' she has done in Australia. Ball is married and has two sons.
Ball was recognised with the 2015 Telstra Queensland Business Woman of the Year award. Other awards, honours, and recognition include: 2020 - Named in Analytics Insights World's 50 most renowned women in robotics 2018 – Drone World UAV Congress 2018: Global UAV Award 2017 – AFR’s BOSS Magazine True Leaders Game Changers 2017 – Women in Leadership Awards – Finalist Innovation Category 2016 – Financial Review & Westpac 100 Woman of Influence 2016 – Top 25 Women in Robotics List - Silicon Valley Robotics 2016 – Courier Mail QBM Magazine: 25 Influential Movers and Shakers of Queensland 2015 – AFR’s BOSS Magazine Young Executives of the Year Winner 2015 – National Telstra Business Woman of the Year, Corporate and Private Award 2015 – Queensland Telstra Business Women’s Awards Winner 2015 – Queensland Telstra Business Woman of the Year, Queensland Corporate and Private Awards Winner 2015 – Innovator of Influence at Innovation Week 2015 – Courier Mail Q Magazine: Queensland 50 Best and Brightest
Publications
Gumption trigger : real stories of grit, resilience, and determination from award winning Australian business women
Long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft systems support for humanitarian logistic operations: The current position and the proposed way ahead
Using long endurance remotely piloted aircraft systems to support humanitarian logistic operations: A case study of Cyclone Winston
