Graeme Bowman

The multi-talented Graeme Bowman is a highly experienced MC, Comedian, Hoax Speaker and Keynoter. A fantastic, versatile choice for conferences, dinners and special events.

Hoax Speaker Melbourne

As a Hoax Speaker (Corporate Imposter) Graeme can become any ‘expert’ you like, and fool any audience you care to provide. Just watch their faces as the expert’s credibility gets stretched to breaking point. A hoax can also be combined with a genuine keynote on creativity and innovation through his unique presentation, ‘Uncork your Creative Genie.’

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Master of Ceremonies Corporate Events

As a Master of Ceremonies, Graeme loves taking a theatrical approach, weaving in original humour, poetry, impressions and characterisation. For example, his MC work often commences with an appearance by David Attenborough’s ‘long lost brother’, Bruce, who delivers a hilarious, tailored routine about the evolution of your organisation. An MC role can also be combined with a hoax speech, to create a Hoax MC – a proven hit at gala dinners and awards presentations.

An MC with Personality

Graeme’s greatest passion is exploring complex topics in a creative, theatrical manner – he even has a provocative, entertaining keynote that pokes fun at the archaic ‘old boys club’ way of leading and working. Engaging this old white male to unpack patriarchy is the best way to encourage your audience to hold courageous conversations around topics such as gender inequality, diversity and inclusion, and purpose-driven leadership.

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Graeme Bowman Clients

Graeme’s clients range across all industries and sectors, and have included IBM, Canon, Pfizer, KPMG, Coca Cola, Shell, CSIRO, Monash University, Australian Synchrotron, Red Cross, Multiple Sclerosis Society, Better Boards Australasia, Clean Energy Council, Waste Management Association, Australasian Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons.

Graeme Bowman was put on this planet for two reasons:

1. To stop people falling asleep during conferences and events
2. To inspire people to think more creatively.

How does Graeme Bowman stop people falling asleep?

As a Corporate Comedian, Master of Ceremonies and Hoax Speaker, Graeme has many years of experience at turning ho-hum into ha-ha at conferences, events, launches and awards presentations. An audience that is laughing is not sleeping:

• At an awards evening or gala dinner, nothing relaxes an audience like a good laugh.
• Humour can help to launch a new product in a way that is quirky and memorable.
• Laughter gives conference audiences a mental breather, when it is interspersed throughout the business sessions.
• Humour can be used to address serious issues through interactive Devils Advocate Characters.

How does Graeme Bowman inspire people to think more creatively?

As a Lateral Thinking Trainer, accredited by the De Bono Institute, Graeme offers an entertaining keynote address that will motivate your people to challenge their current thinking style, then give them valuable tips on how to think more creatively, in order to kick-start the process of innovation. This keynote, How to Suck Great Ideas Out of Your Head, can also extend into a workshop.

Can Graeme mix and match these types of presentations?

Graeme’s great advantage over other speakers, comedians and MCs lies in the versatility he brings to each event.

For example, at a 2-3 day conference, he may appear at the welcome dinner as a hoax speaker, then next morning deliver his creativity keynote, and also MC the entire conference, sprinkling impressions, humorous songs and comic routines throughout.

Graeme can also combine his hoax and MC talents, to create a Hoax MC character very popular at awards presentations. Or he can combine a hoax speech with a genuine creativity keynote a truly unique conference presentation called Uncork Your Creative Genie.

Because so much can be achieved through just the one person, Graeme is a cost-effective live presentation solution, particularly for lengthy conferences, roadshows and incentive trips. One air fare, one hotel room – get the picture?

Based in Melbourne, Graeme’s work often takes him interstate, and he has also appeared overseas at conferences in New Zealand, Bali, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, China and the USA.

Corporate Comedian Testimonials

“Your comedy act ‘Stuck in the Middle’ during the conference dinner was well received from your very first word, and helped create a convivial mood that contributed to making the evening an undoubted success.”
National Industry Assoc for Disability Services

“Judging by the amount of laughing by those around, I am sure the doctors thoroughly enjoyed your entertainment.”
John Flynn Private Hospital

“Thank you for doing such a superb job of Bruce Attenborough, long lost brother of David, at our Management Summit. I am amazed with how you were able to captivate our audience, who, in the past, have been quite a challenging bunch to entertain or impress.”
Thiess

“The conference opening which featured Graeme’s impersonation of naturalist Bruce Attenborough and members of the ALSA committee, tracing the evolution of the liquor store owner from the Jurassic Age to the present and into the future, was indeed memorable. His hoax speech had the audience totally engrossed for at least 20 minutes before things started to fall apart in the funniest possible way. Of equal importance Graeme’s skills as a professional MC were invaluable.”
Australian Liquor Stores Association

Graeme Bowman Hoax Speaker Testimonials

“You proved to be a very big hit – from the hoax Frenchman, to the MC work, and to the AC-DC close. You had clearly researched our business well and gave the conference a huge dose of energy at the right moments.”
Frucor Beverages

“Graeme joined us for a 3 day conference as our Master of Ceremonies. His style was a perfect mix of fun, comedy, creativity and seriousness, and his involvement was a big part in this year’s event being labelled the ‘best ever’. Graeme also brought a number of hilarious elements to our Awards Dinner, and his hoax speech had a room full of geologists staring bug eyed at the stage wondering what on earth was happening. I would recommend Graeme to any organisers of large and complex events like ours.”
BHP

“When we were planning our National Conference, we had a number of requirements. We were looking for an MC who could engage the audience, keep things on track, and be entertaining. We were also looking for someone who could do some comedy at our opening night dinner, and then someone who could entertain the delegates at the Awards Dinner on the final night. We found them all, and his name is Graeme Bowman.”
Elders Financial Planning

“Graeme Bowman was Master of Ceremonies at the NSW Business Chamber Annual Awards Dinner. He took on the character of ‘Elwood Jefferson’, an American news reporter in Sydney preparing for a new show. This hoax worked fantastically well. Attendees were thoroughly captivated by this quirky and off beat character.”
NSW Business Chamber

“As those in attendance represented the cream of the Meetings Industry, it was not going to be easy to impress them. But impress them you did. Your hilarious opening, which saw naturalist Bruce Attenborough poke fun at our industry, before bursting into a high powered rock song complete with manic dancing, really came out of left field.”
Meetings Industry Association of Australia

“Last speaker on patriarchy was amazing. Very important messages delivered superbly and with great artistic flair and intellect.”
Better Boards Australasia

“During our dinner Graeme acted as MC, bogus food waiter, Bruce Attenborough, Hoax Speaker and rock star. This range of characters is testimony to a natural talent which entertained guests and ensured the night’s success. Expect the unexpected. 11 out of 10.”
Construction Benefit Services

“During ‘Uncork Your Creative Genie’, which combines a hoax speech with a creative thinking presentation, Graeme pretended to be a visiting American agribusiness expert. It was fascinating to see the expressions on people’s faces as the hoax gradually unravelled – confusion, amazement and much laughter. Importantly, there were also valuable tips on how to think laterally. Graeme’s comedy during the evening was heavily tailored towards the audience, and people loved to hear the names of their colleagues suddenly appearing in a wide variety of jokes and routines.”
Commonwealth Bank Regional & Agribusiness Banking

“Our audience was very diverse, being a mix of scientists and administrative people, but your highly entertaining and informative address easily held their attention, and gave them insights into how to think more creatively.”
CSIRO Mathematical and Information Sciences

“Your flawless impersonation of the late Sir Joh Bjelke Petersen was a highlight of the evening, nothing but rave reviews.”
Tasmanian Export Awards

“From the moment you stepped onto stage, you captivated the audience and your professional approach and capability was evident. The skits were brilliant and resonated with the delegates. Your background work paid off and hit the mark without offence – an art in itself.”
Australian Society of Association Executives

“Your David Attenborough opener was instrumental in setting the mood for the evening and was a wonderful icebreaker with our staff.”
Westpac

“The variety of characters, which ranged from Austen Powers and a truckie through to a sales rep and a shareholder, added considerable value to the business presentations by highlighting key messages in a humorous but relevant fashion.”
Nortel Networks

“Your impersonation of a Coca-Cola Vice President from head office in Atlanta seemed to have everyone fooled, yet despite their enjoyment of your antics the presentation of the ‘serious’ material came across very clearly. It was an innovative way for us to convey the necessary information in a fun and entertaining manner.”
Coca Cola

“His dual role as MC and entertainer managed to retain the interest of hundreds of staff. He delivered five times in five weeks, without missing a beat.”
Elders

“At our national conference, which was themed around ‘change’, Graeme Bowman contributed to the outcome in a variety of ways. Apart from serving as Master of Ceremonies, facilitating discussion and injecting a good dose of humour, he also played a key role in three specific sessions: firstly, he delivered a comic hoax speech to open the conference, then opened up the delegate’s minds with his presentation, ‘How to Suck Great Ideas out of Your Head’, then ran a ‘team identity’ session that fostered much interaction between delegates and helped identify what the Go Vita brand really meant to them. The feedback conducted was overwhelmingly “excellent” in the delegates comments, with quotes of what was said and what actions they were going to take as a result of Graeme’s presentations.”
Go Vita

“Graeme was brilliant. At a function for an important client of the firm, Graeme’s speech managed to break the ice and reduce the formality of the occasion.”
Gadens Lawyers