Professional Affiliation

 Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, Europe and External Affairs, Scottish Government

Expert Bio

Brought up in Troon in Ayrshire and educated at Edinburgh University, Cabinet Secretary Russell has lived in Argyll for over 20 years.

The Cabinet Secretary was previously Minister for Environment from 2007 until 2009 and then served as Minister for Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution before moving to the role of Cabinet Secretary for Education which he held until 2014. He was appointed Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland's Place in Europe in September 2016.

He is the Constituency Member of the Scottish Parliament for Argyll & Bute.