Grahame began his interest is bushfire matters in the late 1980’s and was appointed to represent environmental interests on the then Bush Fire Council. In 1993 he was appointed to the Bush Fire Coordinating Committee. In 1996, Grahame accepted a position as Environment Officer within the then Department of Bush Fire Services. He was later promoted to Manager of Planning and Research in the NSW Rural Fire Service.

Grahame worked with the NSW Rural Fire Service in the area of community safety for more than 15 years and was responsible for developing the legislative provisions and policy relating to bush fire risk management planning, development control for bushfire prone areas, environmental impact of hazard reduction activities and participated in a number of sub-committees working on the review of AS3959 Construction in Bushfire Prone Areas.

He was also the principal author of the NSW document Planning for Bushfire Protection in 2001 and 2006.

He was appointed to the University of Western Sydney on a conjoint appointment for 5 years in the Graduate Diploma in Bush Fire Design program whilst retaining a role with the RFS. He is now employed full time at the University of Western Sydney and has completed his PhD in bushfire protection and climate change.

He has published widely on planning and development control in bushfire prone environments and is a member of the Standards Committee reviewing AS 3959-2009 as well as chairing the Technical Advisory Committee TAC/20 for the Fire Protection Association of Australia.