Lynton Crosby Keynote Speaker

Sir Lynton Crosby is an Australian political strategist who has managed election campaigns for right-of-centre parties in several countries. He has been described as a ‘’master of the dark political arts’’and ‘’the Wizard of Oz’’. In 2002, he was called ‘’one of the most powerful and influential figures in the nation’’ by The Age.

Lynton Crosby first became involved in politics with the Liberal Party of Australia, eventually being appointed federal director of the party in 1997. He oversaw the party’s successful campaigns at the 1996, 1998, 2001 and 2004 federal government. In 2002, Lynton Crosby left his formal position in the party to establish a consulting firm, the Crosby Textor Group.

Lynton Crosby first ventured into overseas politics at the 2005 United Kingdom general election, where he managed the Conservative Party’s campaign. He has since also run Conservative campaigns for the 2008 and 2012 London mayoral elections, as well as the 2015 general election, all of which resulted in victories for the party.

Outside of Australia and the UK, Crosby has also served as an advisor for parties in Canada, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka. At the 2009 European Parliament elections, Crosby acted as a consultant for Libertas, a pan-European party.

In 2005, Crosby was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (postnominals AO), for “service to politics”. He had previously received the Australian government’s Centenary Medal, for “service to Australian society through politics”. Crosby was knighted in the UK’s 2016 New Year Honours “for political service’’.