Russell Ross, holding a PhD in Economics from Duke University (1977) and an MComm (hons) in Economics from the University of Auckland, was an Associate Professor and Honorary Associate Professor in the School of Economics at the University of Sydney. His academic career at the University spanned decades, including serving as Senior Lecturer in the Department of Economics from 1988 to 1997. He held significant administrative roles such as Associate Dean for Postgraduate Studies in the Faculty of Economics and Business from 1995 to 2000—during which postgraduate enrollments increased fivefold—Associate Dean for Higher Degree by Research Studies until 2002, and Chair of the Discipline of Economics from 2002 to 2004 and again from 2007 to 2010. Ross taught applied microeconomics, with a focus on labour economics and public economics, to students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels across Australia, North America, and New Zealand.

Ross specialized in public policy and labour market issues, authoring extensive research on the Australian labour market. His work addressed labour underutilisation beyond unemployment statistics, the economics of child care, labour force participation of married women, and the labour market status of Indigenous Australians and other disadvantaged groups. Key publications include the co-authored textbook The Australian Labour Market with Keith Whitfield, in its third edition and with a fourth edition due in 2013, adopted by over 20 Australian universities. Other significant works encompass "Recent Evidence on Health and Employment Status for Indigenous Australia" (Australian Journal of Labour Economics, 2006), "Is child work a deterrent to school attendance and school attainment?" with Rasheda Khanam (International Journal of Social Economics, 2011), "Gender-based occupational segregation in Russia: an empirical study" with Anastasia Klimova (International Journal of Social Economics, 2012), and earlier papers such as "A Probit Analysis of Aboriginal Employment Prospects in New South Wales" (The Economic Record, 1993). He produced reports for federal and state governments, advised the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on labour market matters, and testified as an expert witness before the Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission and the New South Wales Industrial Court. Professionally, he served as deputy president of the Australian Society of Labour Economists, sat on the editorial board of the Australian Journal of Labour Economics, acted as Secretary for the Economic Society of Australia's Central Council for over 11 years, and was awarded the Economic Society of Australia Honorary Fellowship in 2021.

Professional Email: russell.ross@sydney.edu.au