Rob Carlton

While Rob Carlton may be better known to most Australians for his on-screen work – he is a multi-talented entertainer, Silver Logie-winning actor, and a writer and producer whose credits span TV, film and theatre – he is also an in-demand performer on the corporate stage where he is a respected master of ceremonies, keynote speaker, facilitator, concept consultant, writer and director.

Having hosted events since his university days some 25 years ago, Rob is always superbly prepared, very adaptable and quite simply a brilliant MC. Rob is truly an MC of substance, clever and witty with fantastic improvisation skills, and as capable of handling celebratory events and award nights as he is of handling more challenging situations. Rob is also a skilled debater, moderator and facilitator.

Rob is frequently in demand to host corporate conferences, award evenings, staff development days and corporate road shows, to name just a few. Clients have even been known to change the date or time of their event to ensure Rob’s appearance. There’s no greater recommendation than that.

Rob has hosting events ranging from 40 people to 1000 people. As well as having many loyal clients in the telco, FMCG, financial services, pharmaceuticals, retail, manufacturing, hospitality and franchise operations industries, Rob also runs his own TV production company and brings this insight and understanding to all his corporate roles.

Rob is equally superb as a speaker; he is engaging, compelling and very, very funny. In his comedy keynote you’ll hear how Rob had to wait nearly 30 years, and for the ugliest man in Australian business history to be played, before he would land a lead role in a drama series. But when the chance to play Kerry Packer came, he was ready … but only just!

As a jobbing actor life was tough: in Rob’s first-ever movie role he had his head flushed down a toilet in The Year My Voice Broke, he got called a “Flamin’ Mongrel” by Alf from Home and Away, was shot dead on Water Rats and blew himself up on Blue Heelers. Dying is fun for a while, but something had to change if he was going to make a living out of it.

Rob’s story of stepping up from bit-part actor to playing an Australian icon, while along the way producing his own shows that now sell all around the world, is a hilarious ride where a chance meeting with Tom Cruise, a romantic moment with Michael Buble and a primal fear of being discovered a fraud are all part of the overnight success that took 25 years to build.

Audiences just love Rob’s down-to-earth delivery, astute character observations and self-deprecating humour.

More about Rob Carlton:

Rob Carlton has been a professional actor since he was 14. He won Tropfest 2006 with his film Carmichael & Shane, a six-minute mockumentary that he wrote, starred in, co-directed and co-produced. He also won best actor that year.

From 2007 to 2009 Rob’s television production company, Shadowfax TV produced two series of the award-winning comedy, Chandon Pictures. He co-directed the project and also took creator, writer and acting credits. Chandon Pictures played in over 15 territories around the world, including the US and UK and was nominated for multiple Logie and AFI awards. As a writer, Rob also won an AWGIE award for Chandon Pictures.

In 2011 he was seen in Paper Giants – The Birth of Cleo as Kerry Packer and won a Silver Logie for his stunning performance. In 2013 Rob reprised his role as Kerry Packer in Paper Giants – Magazine Wars. He was a regular panellist on the Andrew Denton panel show Randling, a support lead in the ABC drama Mabo and a support in PJ Hogan’s film Mental starring Rebecca Gibney, Toni Collette and Anthony LaPaglia.

A graduate of the University of Sydney, Rob majored in English and Australian Literature and was a champion debater and public speaker. These skills have come in very handy, particularly in his corporate hosting roles.

The fact that Rob’s clients continually engage him year after year to host their events is testimony to his skills as the consummate professional. Clients requiring his skills for their events and conferences include Microsoft, Mitsubishi Electric, Woolworths, Parmalat, Optus, AFG and CGU, amongst others.