He is the author of the Web Programming for Beginners and Advanced Course Exam series in ASP, XHTML, HTML, CSS, XML and JavaScript. He wrote and published the poetry anthologies titled The Beginning, Footprints and Loneliness. His prose has been widely published in Australian journals, magazines and newspapers.

Russell has a baccalaureate in pure mathematics and a master’s degree in education. He is dean of mathematics at Ruyton Girls’ School in Melbourne; his previous positions include head of mathematics at Glen Waverley Secondary College and head of mathematics and director of studies at St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School.