Donald Morrison Grant was born at Bairnsdale, Victoria in 1934 and educated at St. Patrick's College, Ballarat, Victoria.

His career began with the Victorian Forests Commission before being commissioned into the Royal Australian Engineers where he saw overseas service in New Guinea and Japan. Following eight years in the Regular Defence Forces he entered private surveying practice, working as a consultant in both Victoria and South Australia until being appointed as Chief Surveyor and then Corporate Planner with the Adelaide City Council. During his time with the Council he implemented many improvements to the standard and standing of survey data within the city with consequent benefits to both the profession and the wider community. Although Don Grant's formal military service ceased in 1962 he continued in the Army Reserve where he reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He holds the National Medal and the Reserve Forces Decoration.

Between 1980 and 1986 he was the assistant and then Deputy Surveyor General with the Department of Lands, South Australia. During this time he was responsible for the introduction of the first digital cadastral data base in Australia and the first use of satellite global positioning techniques for the geodetic coverage of South Australia.

In 1986 Don Grant was appointed as Surveyor General of New South Wales with responsibility for the management of the Land Information Centre, later to become the Surveyor General's Department. The Centre met the fundamental special information needs of New South Wales. During the growth of the Centre and the development of major data bases Don Grant worked with a wide range of Federal, State and Territory agencies and encouraged the creation of private sector firms. As Surveyor General he was responsible for the formulation of strategic policy and planning and the development of the New South Wales Land Information System. He had statutory responsibility for Survey Legislation and Practice as well as for Geographical Names in New South Wales.

At the time of becoming Surveyor General of New South Wales he established his first links with the University of Melbourne where he drew on the technology and expertise at the University to support the growth of the Land Information Centre.

Don Grant has drawn on his experience to advise many countries on surveying and mapping and related organizational and land reform issues and is recognized as an international leader in his professional discipline. He has been a member and Chairman of a wide range of councils and boards at state national and international levels. These include the Chairperson, Inter-Governmental Advisory Committee on Surveying and Mapping; Chairperson, Public Sector Mapping Agencies of Australia; Commissioner of both State and Federal Electoral Redistribution Commissions and a member of a number of university advisory councils.