Graham Ramsay was born in Papakura in 1948 and educated at Kings College, Otahuhu and the University of Auckland School of Engineering. After graduating in 1973 with a PhD, Graham joined the Ministry of Works and Development in Auckland. In 1975 he and his wife, Virginia, relocated to Wellington and settled in Paremata. In 1988 he moved to Beca Consultants, retiring in 2016.