As there is no provision in the Public Record Office Record Control System for the registration of persons, it has been necessary to register Dr. E.W. Russell as an "agency". Dr. Russell's birth date has been given as the commencement date of the "agency".

Dr. Russell has held a number of positions in the Commonwealth and Victorian Public Service. These positions have included Archivist, Public Record Office; Research Director, Commonwealth Public Service Board; Director of Research and Special Projects, Victorian Public Service Board and Director of Research, Public Bodies Review Committee (Parliament of Victoria).

In 1982 Dr. Russell was appointed to the position of Secretary for Minerals and Energy and in 1985 he became Director General, Department of Property and Services.

In 1988 Dr. Russell took up the position of Professor, Public Sector Management within Monash University's Graduate School of Management.