But there are those who have gone all the way with HIA. They’re the ones who are particularly memorable. He recalls one young man who called him out of the blue to invite him to his first job as a solo licensed builder.

‘He literally ran off the slab to drag me out of the car to show me his trailer and the plans of the first house he was going to build,’ says Russell.

‘That was the best feeling. It’s what I say to our guys all the time – not many people can say I made a difference in somebody's life. But in our line of work, our guys can say I made a difference in hundreds of people's lives. They do it all the time. I’m so proud of it.’

Russell doesn’t have a trade; in fact, he spent 17 years running a team analysing ore samples for mining companies without any science before joining HIA in 2000. But he knows people, what motivates them and how to get the best out of them.

He admits to never being a great scholar but has drawn on the sporting field to understand teamwork and how a group can work together to achieve a common goal.

He brought those skills to HIA to turn around the Group Training program in South Australia and then nationally, so it was financially viable but also expand the number of host trainers and apprentices it serves.

‘We're in the people business,’ Russell says. ‘Whether it's the apprentices, the parents or the team members you're working with. You're dealing with people. If you them on the same side, you can get the job done.

‘People can’t be “bludgeoned” into doing things, certainly not these days. They want and deserve a voice and to be heard. Then, even if there’s still disagreement, they usually do what needs to be done in a spirit of mutual respect.

Russell has been accused of being too soft, giving people the benefit of the doubt. ‘I'll allow anybody to make a mistake and even remake it, but you want a change of behaviour at some point,’ he says. ‘So yeah, that might be weak, but I believe it works.’

It’s a message for host builders to take on board, wanting to understand and support their apprentices who appear less resilient in today’s confusing world of social media and shifting expectations.

‘There seems to be many more mental health triggers than ever before, and we deal with this on an ongoing basis,’ says Russell. ‘I don't know the answer except to provide support to the best of your ability without necessarily holding their hand all the time.’

His biggest piece of advice? Communication, communication, communication. Talking through issues and problems is vital because there will inevitably be tough times. Negotiating them will make for stronger and better apprentices and, in the end, successful members of the building industry.

Like the geologists he worked with in the mining industry, Russell can spot the threads of gold that mark a successful apprentice. He says the first thing is whether they have already had some work experience, whatever that might be, because it shows a willingness to try something new. Then it’s a matter of attitude, the drive to do ‘whatever you put in front of me’.

But it’s also up to trainers and support staff to help these young people be the best they can be because they’re the future of the industry. 

Russell never had to be convinced about the opportunities a trade offered and the benefits of group training. He’d have every apprentice in Australia going through it if possible. 

And he’s grateful that trade education is enjoying a revival after a long period of focus on university degrees. ‘There are so many different directions you can take once you've completed your trade certificate,’ he once told a HIA podcast.

It’s not just a trade – it’s a career, says Russell.

What’s gratifying is that many former HIA apprentices are now returning as HIA host trainers, wanting to give back and utilise what HIA has to offer in taking the administrative load, managing and supporting young people entering the industry.

Russell, who has always led from the front and cared deeply about what HIA Group Training does, will leave knowing it’s in good hands.

‘I feel comfortable that I'm going to leave the apprentice business in a better place than I found it,’ he says. It’s a legacy that’s not just good for HIA but the industry and the nation in general.

As for the future, Russell is looking forward to getting out on the open water in his 6m boat at a time of his own choosing, but he will look back in pride at what he has achieved with HIA.

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First published on 23 May 2025.