Russell is a member of the Patient Outcomes Committee.

A professor of surgery, he has had a distinguished career as a medical practitioner and surgeon in Australia and the United Kingdom. He was Director of Surgery at Princess Alexandra Hospital from 1980 until 2003 and was a Professor of Surgery with The University of Queensland from 1992 until 2003.

Russell established the first liver transplant program in Australia and performed a number of ground-breaking liver related surgeries. He has trained more than 75 surgeons in hepatobiliary and liver transplant surgery.

He has held the position since January 2006.