About
Naomi Simson is one of Australia’s most recognizable entrepreneurs. She started RedBalloon in 2001 with $25,000 in savings and turned the fledgling gift-experience site into the anchor brand of Big Red Group (BRG), a customer-centric marketplace now handling millions of bucket-list moments every year. Alongside her business work, she writes a popular blog, hosts the Handpicked podcast, and regularly comments on leadership and small-business issues for television and print. Her warm, direct style on Shark Tank Australia—where she served as the “Red Shark” for four seasons—cemented her place as a champion of start-ups and made her a household name.
Before Fame
Simson’s career began in corporate marketing. She honed her craft at IBM, KPMG, Apple Australia, and Ansett Airlines, learning how global brands think about customers and innovation. Those lessons proved invaluable when, after the birth of her second child, she decided to build a company of her own. Working from her Sydney home, she uploaded a handful of sky-dives, hot-air balloon rides, and gourmet dinners to a simple website and focused on delight rather than discount. The timing was perfect: as e-commerce took hold, Australians were eager to gift experiences instead of “more stuff,” and RedBalloon took off.
Trivia
- LinkedIn trailblazer: With close to three million followers, Simson is among Australia’s most-followed voices on LinkedIn, sharing straight-talk advice on purpose, resilience, and leadership.
- Reality-TV philanthropist: Long before Shark Tank, she appeared on The Secret Millionaire (2009), volunteering incognito and later donating more than AU$750,000 to grassroots causes.
- Best-selling author: Her two books—Live What You Love (2015) and Ready to Soar (2016)—blend memoir with practical tips for turning bright ideas into sustainable ventures.
- Big hairy goal: BRG’s stated vision is “an experience every second, somewhere on Earth by 2025,” reflecting Simson’s belief that memorable moments matter more than material goods.
- Sports-mad Sydneysider: Her social feeds reveal a passion for the Sydney Swans and community sport, often cheering on games with trademark red accessories.
Family Life
Naomi grew up in Melbourne with parents who encouraged curiosity and hard work. She credits their “go-give” philosophy for her later focus on customer joy and philanthropy. Today she lives in Sydney with partner Stuart King and has two adult children, who saw the highs and lows of start-up life around the kitchen table. Although her schedule is packed, weekends usually feature family dinners, coastal walks, or a quick getaway to recharge. Keeping home life grounded, she says, fuels the energy she brings to the boardroom and the wider start-up ecosystem. (Personal details drawn from public interviews and her own blog.)
Associated With
- Janine Allis and Andrew Banks: Fellow Sharks with whom she invested in dozens of Australian start-ups during the show’s four-season run. Their friendly rivalry and shared mentoring ethos inspired countless founders.
- David Anderson: Co-founded Big Red Group with Simson in 2017; together they scaled BRG into a $100 million enterprise spanning Adrenaline, Experience Oz, and Lime&Tonic.
- Heads Over Heels & Cerebral Palsy Alliance: Non-profits she supports as advisor and governor, reflecting her long-standing commitment to social impact.
- Small-business community: Through her Handpicked podcast, LinkedIn posts, and frequent keynote speeches, Simson amplifies stories of founders, innovators, and purpose-driven leaders across Australia and beyond.
Naomi Simson’s journey—from a marketer with a bold idea to the vibrant “Red Shark” who champions experiences over objects—shows how curiosity, customer focus, and generosity can turn a spare-bedroom start-up into a global brand.
