Catherine Ball

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Catherine Ball is a businesswoman, scientific futurist, and environmental scientist who specializes in using drone technology for conservation. She is an honorary associate professor at the Australian National University, in the College of Systems and Society, where she helps with research and teaching about new technologies and how they’re used in science and society.

Ball works on a wide range of projects, from making documentaries to speaking at conferences and advising on new approaches in environmental and humanitarian work. Her expertise includes environmental monitoring and the use of emerging technology in scientific research and science communication.

Her interest in science grew from her father, who worked on an oil rig in the North Sea and enjoyed engineering, as well as from Star Wars and wildlife documentaries on the BBC. She studied at Newcastle University, earning a BSc Honours in Environmental Protection and a PhD in Spatial Ecology and Descriptive and Predictive Statistics.

Ball founded World of Drones and Robotics Global, based in Brisbane. The organization runs the World of Drones and Robotics Congress and a related trade exhibition. These conferences have led to projects that use drones to find lost people, help communities manage bushfire risk, and protect endangered species. She highlighted the underuse of drones and worked to show their potential when used correctly.

Her solution was to create open conferences where people could share ideas and innovate. Her work helped spread information about drones across Australia and internationally. The conferences encouraged the adoption of drones for new applications in environmental monitoring and disaster response, helping drones become a common tool for gathering information on a large scale.

Catherine Ball has received several awards, including the 2020 Analytics Insight World’s 50 Most Renowned Women in Robotics Award, the 2016 Top 25 Women in Robotics List, the 2017 Women in Leadership Awards – Finalist in Innovation, and the 2016 Financial Review and Westpac 100 Women of Influence, among others.