When I stepped back from Council, I did so with clarity and optimism — not just about where our cities were headed, but about the role planning could play in shaping our future. For over two decades, I’ve worked at the intersection of planning, politics, and community, as a mayor, consultant, and researcher. I’ve seen the power of good planning to create liveable, inclusive, future-ready places. I’ve also seen how easily it can be derailed by short-term thinking — and how costly that can be for clients, communities, and councils alike. Greiss Planning exists to bring clarity, rigour, and steady leadership to the approvals process, so good projects can move forward with confidence.
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This article is a light but memorable community feature linking George Greiss’ PhD journey with a public fundraising initiative. It explains that Greiss grew his hair throughout his doctoral studies in Geography and Urban Planning at Western Sydney University, committing not to cut it until his thesis was completed. With his PhD finished, the article reports he chose to mark the moment by turning it into a charity event rather than a private milestone.
The piece outlines a mayoral invitation to a special event at Campbelltown Arts Centre where Greiss would cut his hair “in good fun” to raise funds for the Macarthur Cancer Therapy Centre’s wig library. It includes Greiss’ comments recognising the work of local doctors and nurses and frames the event as both civic leadership and community spirit. While not planning-focused, it’s a strong example of public engagement, visibility, and values-driven leadership.
Read more → Mayoral ponytail gonna get the chop for good cause