Russell completed a BSc in Geophysics at Curtin University in 1996 and Honours (First Class) in 1997 with a thesis on the application of three-component DHTEM to nickel sulphide exploration in the Forrestania Region.

After graduating, Russell joined the exploration team at Outokumpu Mining Australia and provided geophysical support for all its base metal projects assisting with the delineation of satellite nickel sulphide orebodies at prospects within the Forrestania, Black Swan and Honeymoon Well Projects. After the formation of Newexco from the Outokumpu team in mid-1999, Russell worked as a Project Geophysicist on various gold and base metal projects for numerous clients including Western Mining, Anglo American, Dalrymple Resources and Independence Gold, and was a key member of the team which discovered Silver Swan Deeps and several other significant orebodies.

Based on a due diligence review of historic DHTEM data within the Forrestania Project, he initiated an aggressive geophysical exploration campaign on behalf of Western Areas NL between 2002 and 2004. This was pivotal in the discovery of several significant new massive nickel sulphide orebodies including Daybreak (August 2002), Daybreak Deeps (March 2003) and, most notably, Flying Fox (T1 to T5 orebodies) in 2003/2004.

Since joining SGC in early 2005 as a consulting geophysicist (GeoPotential Consulting), he has been involved in the following significant discoveries/delineations:

• South Miitel Ni sulphide deposit (Mincor Resources NL)
• Carnilya Hill East Ni sulphide deposit (Mincor Resources NL)
• Gillet Ni sulphide deposit (Consolidated Nickel Limited)
• Ayshia VMS – Zn-Ag discovery (Fox Resources Limited
• Shelby/Conquest/Sunchaser Cu/Zn (Fox Resources Limited)
• Bertram Ni sulphide discovery (Fox Resources Limited)
• Balla Balla VMS – Zn-Pb-Cu discovery (Straits Resources Limited)

Russell is an active member of the ASEG and AIG.