Russell has been an educator for over 30 years and has worked in Tamaki since 1991. He has extensive experience working with Māori and Pasifika children and families through both school and community. On secondment with the Ministry of Education, Russell has assisted with the provision of quality staff for New Zealand schools and in the development of schooling improvement for low decile schools. He has been working at the forefront of digital technologies in learning since the mid-90s. Russell is a long term member of the Pt England community and is involved in many community capacity building activities.

Russell has received a number of accolades throughout his career. Most recently he has:

• Received a Woolf Fisher Fellowship (2016)

• Accepted two New Zealand Innovation Awards on behalf of Manaiakalani (2016)

• Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (2020)

Presently, Russell is Pt England School's principal and Convenor for the Manaiakalani Programme.