Russ has extensive experience both as a practitioner and academic in the construction industry. Originally trained in New Zealand as a architect and draughtsman.
Worked as senior architect in multi-discipline architectural and engineering practices in Wellington and London. Specialising in heavy industrial, high rise and institutional projects with particular emphasis on documentation and on site project management.
The last 12 years have been a senior lecturer in architectural technology with Massey University (Wellington campus) preceded by 13 years with Wellington Polytechnic. These roles included maintaining strong education based links with the design and construction side of industry.
Duties included developing and delivering industry relevant two and eventually three year programmes that later became the basis of Massey degree courses; a first in this field.
Well respected for off campus delivery of “house construction awareness” papers within the Real Estate degree . Special emphasis on house diagnostic reporting techniques including leaky houses and implementation of E2 risk evaluation techniques.
Particular interest in setting up innovative delivery and evaluation procedures for University level construction problem solving subjects.
These arose from outside interest and extensive background in “hands on” building that extends into an advisory capacity.
Currently employed as part time senior lecturer on final year multi storey design and construction paper for Massey (Auckland) quantity surveying and construction management degree.