Australian entrepreneur, founder of RedBalloon, Shark Tank investor.

Naomi Simson OAM began her career in corporate marketing, gaining experience with leading global brands such as IBM, KPMG, Apple Computer Australia and Ansett Australia. In 2001, she founded RedBalloon, a pioneering online experience-gift retailer, launching the business from her home with a personal investment of $25,000. Over the next decade she grew the company to a team of 46 and built one of Australia’s most recognised consumer brands. Naomi served as CEO until 2011, when she shifted focus from daily operations to strategic growth.

In 2017, Naomi co-founded Big Red Group with business partner David Anderson. Today, Big Red Group is a platform with a portfolio that includes RedBalloon, Adrenaline, Experience Oz, Local Agent and Everything NZ — and hundreds of other sites.

Naomi is well known for her role as one of the original “Sharks” on four seasons of Shark Tank Australia, where she supported and invested in dozens of startups. Through her work on the show, Naomi became a champion of Australia’s entrepreneurial community and small-business owners, offering candid insights into pitching, scaling and building purpose-driven businesses.

She also appeared on The Secret Millionaire – Australia, where she spent time volunteering in underprivileged communities before revealing her identity and donating to causes she connected with personally.

The experience deepened her contribution, which continues through her philanthropic efforts today. Naomi’s passion for business is matched only by her passion for giving back — she believes true leadership is about contributing to the community. She proudly serves on the Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation board and served for a decade on the University of Melbourne’s Faculty of Business and Economics board. Her journey has also included rewarding volunteer roles with Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), YPO, Heads Over Heels, Voiceless and Best Buddies. From serving as a Sydney Swans ambassador to hosting women’s education tours and personally mentoring hundreds of young founders, she is deeply committed to using her platform to help build a more innovative, inclusive and compassionate Australia.

With more than 2.6 million followers on LinkedIn, she is the most-followed business voice in Australia. Her thought leadership has helped inspire and guide entrepreneurs and leaders globally. She is a Fellow of the AICD and holds a B.Comm from the University of Melbourne, and was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2026 for her services to business, entrepreneurship and leadership.

She is the author of two books: Live What You Love (2015) and Ready to Soar (2016). Naomi is a busy and sought-after keynote speaker.