Meet Ralph

peakleap instructor

Ralph Ashton

Strategic Advisor & Leadership Coach

Hi, I’m Ralph Ashton, a peakleap instructor helping leaders and teams overcome their toughest challenges at the intersection of strategy and human dynamics. With three decades of experience across law, finance, public policy, and leadership development, I bring a rare ability to combine strategic insight with transformational coaching.

I founded and led Next25 – Australia’s first non-partisan “think-and-do tank” – and have advised governments, businesses, and NGOs on climate strategy, disaster recovery, and national decision-making. Earlier in my career, I worked as a corporate lawyer and investment banker before dedicating myself to leadership, strategy, and coaching.

At peakleap, I lead sessions on topics such as Dealing with Rejection, Difficult Conversations, and The Psychology of Team Performance. My Imagine–Empower–Build framework guides leaders to cut through complexity, unlock clarity, and translate vision into bold, practical outcomes.

Highlights of my work include coaching senior professionals to restructure their businesses for greater performance, advising a State Government on climate and energy transition strategy, and providing leadership development to over 10% of Australia’s parliamentarians. I’ve also convened global experts to influence international climate policy in partnership with the UN, World Bank, and governments worldwide.

My passion is helping leaders and teams show up with clarity, confidence, and authenticity – bridging the gap between vision and outcome.