Glenn was born in Melbourne and raised in Perth.  He attended Thornlie Senior High School.  He left school at 17 to work as a furniture removalist.  When he was 20 Glenn founded his own business operating road trains throughout Australia.

Glenn then worked as an organiser for the Western Australian Branch of the Transport Workers Union. Glenn was made a life member of the Union in 2012.

He was awarded the Centenary Medal in 2001.

In 2004 Glenn was elected as a Senator for Western Australia.  Throughout his time in parliament, Glenn has continued to advocate for the rights of working people.  He played a pivotal role in developing the Albanese Government’s Closing the Loopholes legislation.

Glenn has been a strong and passionate advocate for transport workers and the transport industry both in Australia and overseas.

He served as Shadow Assistant Minister for Road Safety from June 2018 until May 2022.

Glenn has been recognised as a supporter of Road Safety Week every year since 2019.  Earlier this year Glenn was awarded the Alex Gallacher Road Safety Award by Safer Australian Roads and Highways (SARAH).

In 2022 Glenn was the recipient of the COVID Hero Award from Road Freight New South Wales, in recognition of his hard work and advocacy that helped keep Australia’s supply chains operating and food and other goods delivered throughout Australia, despite border closures. 

He was also awarded the Noel Forsyth Memorial Award by the National Road Freighters Association in 2022.

Glenn has been a member of the Senate Rural Regional Affairs and Transport Committee ever since he entered the federal parliament and has served as Chair of the Legislation or References Committee since 2007 and is currently the longest serving Chair.