After attending Kingston University, Ralph worked with a number of commercial practices and joined Covell Matthew Wheatley in 1981 where he specialised in office and business developments.  His appointment as Associate in 1985 gave him the responsibility for a wider portfolio, including prestigious city developments such as Ropemaker Place and an offices campus at  Farnborough Aerospace Park. 

He joined Hamilton Associates in 1993, as an Associate Director to oversee the design and construction of a wide range of projects before leaving in 2004 to become a director of Darling Associates where he brought his leadership skills and technical / construction knowledge to the practice, together with his experience in luxury residential projects.

Recent significant projects include a mixed retail, residential and offices in Great Marlborough Street; the Zammat building in Maple Cross, a redevelopment of Harrods Depository to luxury apartments and a new office development in Brompton Road.