Before embarking on his PhD, Russell has 15 years of professional experience in various industries, such as law, banking and finance, real estate, government, healthcare, and science.

Russell was awarded a Master of Public Health (Chronic Disease Prevention) from the University of Sydney, Master of Laws with Merit (Medical Law and Ethics) from the University of Edinburgh, Master of Legal Practice and Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice from the Australian National University, Juris Doctor from the University of Western Australia, and Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology in the Philippines. Russell is also completing his MSc dissertation at the University of Oxford's Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine for the graduate reading in Master of Science in Evidence-Based Health Care. He is a triple board-certified medical laboratory scientist in the US specialising in molecular biology, a registered medical technologist in the Philippines, and a lawyer in four jurisdictions in Australia and New Zealand.

Russell's PhD research aims to improve migrant health by helping them access health service information and navigate health systems. Using a mixed-method approach, he will develop frameworks for improving migrant health system literacy. Russell will be supervised by Dr Davoud Pourmarzi.