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Naomi Simson

Australian businesswoman From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Naomi Simson
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Naomi Simson (born 22 February 1964) is an Australian businessperson, entrepreneur, podcaster and blogger. After launching the Australian online success story RedBalloon in 2001, Naomi went on to co-found Big Red Group with partner David Anderson in 2017. Headquartered in Sydney's CBD, Big Red Group is the largest platform of experiences in ANZ, and home to leading brands including Adrenaline, Experience Oz, Experience Oz Local Agent, Everything NZ, and RedBalloon.  

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Career

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Simson began her career in the corporate marketing field and gained experience with IBM, KPMG, Apple Computer Australia, and Ansett Australia. In 2001, she founded RedBalloon, an online experience gift retailer based in Australia. She began the company out of her house with a $25,000 personal investment and grew it to 46 employees by 2011.[1][2] Simson was CEO of the company until 2011 when she took a step back from the operational side of the business.[3] In 2017, Simson co-founded Big Red Group with David Anderson, a company that became the parent company for RedBalloon.[4] It also acquired and operates the companies Adrenaline, Experience Oz, Experience Oz Local Agent and RedBalloon NZ.

In late 2014, Simson was named as one of five 'Sharks' on Network Ten's Shark Tank in Australia along with Andrew Banks, John McGrath, Steve Baxter, and Janine Allis. Simson's time on Shark Tank was spent supporting the start-up community[5] and investing in many businesses during all four seasons of the show. Simson had much advice for the start-up community about pitching, purpose and scaling.[6] Simson has also been a guest host on Network Ten's Studio 10.[7]

Simson was a secret millionaire in the 2009 season of the reality television show The Secret Millionaire – Australia.[8] On the show, Simson volunteered for 10 days in different disadvantaged areas of Australia. Upon conclusion of the show, Simson reveals her true identity to others and donates money to a number of the causes and individuals she volunteered for during the show.[9] She was one of five benefactors for the season who gave more than $750,000 to various individuals and organisations in the community.[8][10]

Simson is a blogger and owner of NaomiSimson.com, ranked number two in the 15 Top Business Blogs by SmartCompany.com as of 2016.[11][12][13] Simson was named one of Australia's best business bloggers as far back as 2009[14] and in 2020 was named top business blogger.[15] Simson has the furthest reach for any Australian on the LinkedIn business networking platform[16] with 2.6 million followers.

Simson is the author of two books, Live What You Love (2015) and Ready to Soar (2016). She was one of 13 authors who collaborated to write the 2008 book The Power of More Than One:Success Strategies from Australasia's Leading Business and Motivational Specialists[17] and also wrote a preface for the 2013 book Appvertising – How Apps are Changing the World.[18] In 2016 she released the book Ready to Soar: Turn Your Brilliant Idea into a Business You Love.[19]

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Podcasting and Public Speaking

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In May 2021, Simson launched the business podcast Handpicked with Naomi Simson with Podshape. It is currently in its fifth season (88 episodes) through September 2025, offering entrepreneurs and business leaders practical advice and inspiration.[20][21]

Simson is widely recognised as one of Australia’s most sought-after keynote speakers, delivering dynamic presentations on leadership, resilience, entrepreneurship, innovation, customer experience, wellbeing, and the future of work.[22][23][24][25]

Keynote Topics

Simson often bases her presentations around themes she explores in her own writing—bringing substance to her keynotes with depth and authenticity:

  • **Transformational Leadership** – Encouraging leaders to inspire purpose, trust, and community—not just manage. She offers a practical framework for becoming a “leader who transforms.”[26]
  • **Customer-Obsessed Culture & The Role of AI** – Emphasises building emotional loyalty through human connection, using AI to enhance—not replace—customer relationships.[27]
  • **The New Leadership Playbook** – Advocates for empathetic, trust- and values-led leadership instead of outdated command-and-control models.[28]
  • **Entrepreneurship & Wellbeing** – Shares personal advice on scaling businesses while maintaining resilience, self-care, and clarity—especially in the founder’s journey.[29]

Simson’s fusion of heartfelt storytelling, evidence-based frameworks, and real-life examples gives her speaking engagements both credibility and emotional resonance.

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Board and governance roles

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Simson holds several significant non-executive and independent director roles, and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD).[30]

She is co-founder and non-executive director of Big Red Group, parent company of brands like RedBalloon and Adrenaline. The group's leadership page lists her among its board members.[31]

Since February 2022, she has also served as an independent director of Australian Payments Plus.[32]

In July 2023, Simson joined Colonial First State as an independent director, a role confirmed across multiple reputable profiles.[33]

She was appointed an independent non-executive director of ASX-listed Weebit Nano Ltd (ASX:WBT) in September 2023; both the company announcement and media coverage highlight her role and extensive board experience.[34][35]

Simson is also a philanthropist, she has been a governor for the Cerebral Palsy Alliance.[36] since July 2013. She was an advisory board member of the University of Melbourne Business and Economic faculty between 2017 - 2025 University of Melbourne.[37]and joined the council of Voiceless to spread the word about the need for greater animal protection.[38] retiring in 2017. She was an advisor to Heads Over Heels now Apropela retiring in 2017 and she contributes to many other not for profit and mentoring organsitions.

Publications

  • Ready To Soar (2016) ISBN 9781760372446[39]
  • Live What You Love (2015) ISBN 9781743569917[40]

Podcast

  • Handpicked 5 Seasons - 88 episodes (May 2021 – Sep 2025) Naomi Simson launches brand new business podcast with Podshape.[41]
  • Handpicked Business Podcast (current) RedBalloon founder Naomi Simson launches podcast via Podshape.[42]


Awards and recognition

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Simson has won numerous awards throughout her career including the 2005 Westpac NSW Entrepreneur of the Year.[43] Additional awards and recognition include the National Telstra Business Women's Award for Innovation in 2008, and being a 2011 finalist in BRW's Entrepreneur of the Year.[1]

Simson was recognised by LinkedIn in 2012 as one of the World's Most Influential Thought Leaders, a recognition shared by only 150 people.[44] She was one of only two from Australia with the other being Freelancer.com founder Matt Barrie.[45] The recognition was part of LinkedIn's Influencer Campaign to share business knowledge, allowing Simson to author content to be shared with LinkedIn members.[44]

As of 2017, Simson is one of the 10 business executives in Australia, to hold a "Power Profile" on LinkedIn.[46]

In October 2018 Simson was named in The Australian Financial Review 100 Women of Influence awards in the Business and Entrepreneur category.[47]

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References

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