Russell has a background in educational management, management training and consultancy. He joined the university in 1999 to manage the Emap Open Learning Scheme. Later he was seconded to project manage a UK eUniversities-funded project to develop an e-learning Masters programme.
Since 2010 Russell has been Head of Wentworth Graduate College where he has responsibility for building and strengthening the college community, together with overall welfare and discipline responsibility.
Russell’s main current role within the university is as an academic in the Department of Health Sciences, where he is involved in the BSc Nursing, MNursing, PG Dip and Foundation Degree programmes. His main areas of teaching are service improvement, leadership, change management, team working and academic skills. Russell is also one of the university’s harassment advisers.