Graham Sansom is a widely acknowledged leader and expert in Australian local government. His long career has spanned senior management positions, consultancy and university teaching and research. From 1998 to 2012 he was professor and director of the UTS Centre for Local Government and (from 2009) also the Australian Centre for Excellence in Local Government. Previously he was CEO of the Australian Local Government Association from 1994 to 1998, and before that he held senior positions in local councils, a regional organisation of councils and state agencies. During and since his time at UTS he was appointed by the federal and four state governments to a variety of expert panels and reviews into local government operations, legislation, sustainability and constitutional recognition. In 2012-13 he chaired the NSW Independent Local Government Review significant policy, legislative and structural change. 

On the international stage, Graham has led local government research and development projects in the Asia-Pacific and southern Africa, notably the design and later evaluation of an Australian-funded program to advance local government in post-apartheid South Africa. As well, he has been a visiting professor in Canada and New Zealand and an invited speaker at multiple international conferences and seminars; and played leadership roles in global forums such as the Forum of Federations and Commonwealth (of nations) Local Government Forum (CLGF). He was a member of the CLGF board and chaired its global Research Advisory Group from 2005 to 2011. Between 2008 to 2011 he was the foundation editor of the Commonwealth Journal of Local Governance, and returned to that role from 2024 to 2028.

Graham's career research and publications span local government systems and finances; local democracy; governance in small island states; inter-government relations; metropolitan planning and management; regional development and cooperation; and environmental and social sustainability.