Rob Carlton

Entertainer, actor, writer and producer

Rob Carlton is an entertainer, actor, writer and producer. A veteran of the free-for-all that is Theatresports (Carlton won its 2001 celebrity show), Rob's extensive improvising experience has taught him one basic survival lesson: "As soon as a scene is set an audience has an expectation of what will happen and you have to hit and deliver instantly or you disappoint."

Rob takes that lesson to the corporate arena where he successfully works as a master of ceremonies, facilitator, concept consultant, writer and director for numerous companies including IBM, Uncle Toby's, Tivoli, Coca Cola, Panasonic, Pfizer and Blake Dawson Waldron.

As master of ceremonies, Rob draws different components of a conference together combining humorous and serious issues while incorporating the bigger picture.  His thorough research, scripting and articulate presentation style provides the audience with a clear understanding of the conference's objective in a light hearted yet informative way.

As a presenter of Corporate Trivia, Rob Carlton is a natural, incorporating specific questions directly related to the client's company cleverly mixed in with topical, social and fun questions.

Rob understands the fine line between energise and patronise, between shrewd and rude, between risqué and crass.  With ten years experience in hosting events, trivia and comedy workshops, with audiences ranging from forty to one thousand, he provides just the right balance.

Rob Carlton has been a professional actor since he was 14. He is the star of more than 15 TV commercials having played the man with the matey face in Qantas, Telstra and Mitsubishi ad campaigns and, perhaps most famously, the blind man with the world's smallest guide dog in the Toohey's beer TV commercial. Rob Carlton had his heart removed beside the road in All Saints, was nearly trampled to death by women on horses in McLeod's Daughters, blew himself up in Blue Heelers and was shot dead stalking Frank Holloway on Water Rats.

Rob Carlton won Tropfest 2006 with his film Carmichael & Shane a six-minute mock documentary. Written by, and starring Carlton, along with his two-year-old twin sons, it proposed a novel solution to raising at least one successful child: choose a favourite.

Rob's eight-part comedy series Chandon Pictures, originally produced for Australia's Movie Network Channels, aired in 2009 on ABC TV and shot Rob to international fame. US distributor Lionsgate acquired the rights to the quirky series that follows the comedic adventures of a self-proclaimed and thoroughly deluded documentary-maker, Tom Chandon (played by Carlton), and his struggling video production company. A second series of Chandon Pictures went to air on Movie Extra in early 2009 and ABC free to air later that year. The show was nominated for a 2009 Australian Film Industry Award.

A graduate of the University of Sydney, Rob majored in English and Australian Literature.  At university he was a champion debater and public speaker, winning the intercollegiate debating teams championship.  Since graduating, Rob has appeared often in the University Celebrity/Charity debates alongside Peter Fitzsimons, James O'Loghlin and Adam Spencer.   He has also been invited to high schools to speak to students on 'leadership' and 'life after school'. Rob Carlton is an Ambassador for the Dymocks Literacy Foundation. 

Rob Carlton can be engaged as: 

MC - MC'ing events is a curious business. There's a fine line between energise and patronise, between shrewd and rude, between risqué and crass. With ten years experience in hosting events, from 40 people to 1000 people, Rob Carlton knows exactly where that line is.

Corporate debating - As Chair of your debate, Rob will warm up the audience, set the scenes with the rules and regulations of 'the house', handle the hecklers and provide the platform for your debaters. As moderator, his ability to take a brief, research a topic, keep an audience in check, all while following the string of an argument, will ensure the success of your debate.

Comedian  - Improvisation - Rob will give you a show that no one has ever seen before. Perfect to begin, break up or close a conference, he will make up the content as he goes, inspired by audience suggestions, and even involve the audience.

Team building comedy workshops - Rob will teach your team the basics of improvised comedy. Touching on themes of listening and change, the confluence of individual and team activities and the acceptance of ideas, your group will go away with a richer understanding of team dynamics.

Comedy classes followed by a show - combining the comedy workshops with a show, your team will learn the skills of improvisation during the day, then watch the professionals take to the stage in the evening. Members of your team will be invited to participate.

Trivia for conferences - Whether its speed trivia - the perfect energy spike in the middle of a conference, or evening trivia after a conference in a more relaxed, fun environment, Rob will keep your team fired up and provide plenty of opportunities for networking.