Toby Ralph

Marketing Strategist, Industry Provocateur

Toby Ralph is a global marketer, specialising in marketing communications, research, strategy and reviews, frequently with a political dimension. He has run advertising agencies, controlled or had input to $1bn in communications campaigns and sits on a range of small boards.

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Toby Ralph is a global marketer, specialising in marketing communications, research, strategy and reviews, frequently with a political dimension. He has run advertising agencies, controlled or had input to $1bn in communications campaigns and sits on a range of small boards. He has worked on around fifty elections across three continents, including all federal campaigns for Australia’s second longest serving Prime Minister, John Howard. Internationally he has worked on democracy-related issues in Malawi, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Papua New Guinea, Angola and Cambodia, and commercially in dozens of countries.

He has significant experience with giving practical advice, particularly in relation to strategy, advertising, PR, politics, research and communications. Clients have included Presidents, Prime Ministers, Governments, the United Nations – for whom he has been a Special External Advisor – as well as many boards and corporations.

Toby has been published by Penguin/Random House (Ballots, Bullets and Kabulshit, an Afghan Election) and Oxford University Press (contributing a chapter to The Oxford Handbook of Taboo Words and Language) as well as writing for numerous publications such as for The Saturday Telegraph, Crikey!, Meanjin, The Drum, The Herald Sun, The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, Marketing, New Daily and On Line Opinion

He is a regular guest on television and radio in Australia, including Gruen Planet, Gruen Nation, The Project, ABC Radio National, 7.30 Report, Weekend Today, 3AW, The Drum, Sunrise Weekend Sunrise, Insight, The Contrarians, 5AA, 2CC, ABC 666, The Feed, Today Tonight, Media Watch, 4 Corners and Q&A.

Toby is an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow to the University of Queensland, Ambasciatore di COPSE, an Italian humanitarian organization working in the third world, and a frequent presenter and public speaker.

He has been the subject of a WikiLeak, topped The Power Index’s ‘Five unknown people running Australia’, and was included in the inaugural BRW Power List as one of the fifty most influential people in Australian business.

Topics

“The business of politics and the politics of business.” Using stories and commercials from elections, Toby Ralph asks if business can learn from the rough and tumble world of politics. In politics it is all about the result – to come second is to lose – so every effort is made to win.

Toby Ralph is entertaining, engaging and thought provoking for anyone in business – in fact, for anyone.

At our marketing Conference, Toby’s presentation provided the team with an insightful, thought provoking, engaging and entertaining session. I would happily recommend him to anyone looking for a speaker who can cover such a broad range of topics with such quality. HSBC Australia
Toby presented at the ICON annual customer forum. His engaging and witty journey of discovery on the business of politics and how it works had the audience mesmerised. Toby’s ability to hold the attention of the room while describing the complexities of running an election campaign was complimented by all that attended. I very much look forward for the opportunity to watch Toby in action again soon. ICON software
He commands an audience with style, sophistication and unparalleled knowledge. Andrew Gregson
Graceful Speakers is a boutique agency operating from Sydney placing high profile and highly talented guest lecturers aboard five star and higher cruise vessels globally. Toby Ralph has worked with Graceful speakers for over 5 years, completing acclaimed placements aboard ultra-high end lines. He commands an audience with style, sophistication and unparalleled knowledge. Graceful Speakers