Until retirement, Ralph Hanan worked at the World Bank as an agricultural economist, initially for investment projects and later for country agricultural policies. He has led consultations with staff and NGOs for drafting operational policies, in close collaboration with the Legal Dept., and submitted proposed policies to the Board for approval. Ralph advises his local council, lectures, and has published newspaper articles on spatial urban planning, energy efficiency for transport and warm healthy homes, and general development issues of resource productivity and diversification.