Geoff grew up in Stawell and graduated from the VSF in 1971. In 1972, he worked at Toolangi on Ash regrowth thinning, and during 1973/74 he completed a forestry degree at Melbourne University. He moved to Forrest in 1975 and supervised logging and regeneration operations on the Otway Ridge.

In 1978 he was transferred to Powelltown as Assistant District Forester responsible for fire protection and forest operations. In 1981 he moved to Horsham as Fire Protection Planning Officer for the Western half of Victoria, and after the formation of CFL in 1984 he was appointed as Assistant Regional Manager – Operations for the Horsham Region.

In 1993 he was appointed Senior Forester and Fire Management Officer for the Horsham Forest Management Area a position which he held up until his retirement. In 1985 he was certified as the Level 3 Fire Controller at Horsham, a position he maintained for 26 years. He was awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal in 2004.

Since retiring from the Department in 2011 he has worked in the local timber industry as a VicForests licensee.