Geoff Plant was raised in Vancouver and received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard and law degrees from Dalhousie in Nova Scotia and Southampton and Cambridge in England. He was called to the bar in 1982. Mr. Plant has lectured and written extensively on aboriginal and education law.

An active member of his community, Mr. Plant has served as a director and past president of the Richmond Community Music School and as council chair of his home church, Gilmore Park United.