Associate Professor Russell Ross died unexpectedly on Tuesday the 12^th of August aged 74. For 15 years until his death, Russell held the key position of Secretary to the Central Committee of the Economic Society of Australia, working with five Presidents. His routine and welcome re-election to this role every three years was unsurprising to anyone on the Central Committee – he was simply very good at the role, bringing his unique institutional knowledge, wise counsel, gentle discipline and strong commitment.  

Russell’s customary salutation of ‘comrade’ (said with a twinkle in his eye and a touch of irony) was often the precursor to a deep discussion about the ESA, economic policy, and the economics profession, and what the Society could do to advance all three in Australia. This was always followed with a plan, positive in intent, sympathetic to the recognition of the needs of competing interests and involving him taking major responsibility for the delivery of sensible outcomes.

As Secretary he was a key and enthusiastic supporter of, and collaborator in, the various initiatives by the Society, including the practical and institutional changes: to make the Society more attractive and relevant to women in economics; the Eminent Speaker series; and the Distinguished Public Policy Fellow. He brought that quality of collegiality essential to successful committee work in voluntary professional associations.  Russell was made an Honorary Fellow for his service to the broader economic profession, an award that he richly deserved.

 It was not only the ESA that benefited hugely from his reforms involving institutional improvements of Australian economics. Russell was part of a group of affectionate comrades that formed the Australian Society of Labour Economists in 2004, and he served as President of ASLE from 2007 to 2010. He was key to the establishment of Australia’s premier applied labour economics journal in 2006, the Australian Journal of Labour Economics, which thrives today.

Russell’s main career contribution was in the Economics Discipline at the University of Sydney (USyd), starting in 1978. He was Chair of the Department for over five years and devoted significant time and energy to other leadership roles at the university. Feedback from his departmental colleagues - who all saw themselves as friends as well - highlights that Russell was exceptionally generous in his time and efforts to promote and cultivate the career of others, a problem-solver who invested in people, with a disciplined and resolute eye on academic welfare. This was always characterized by sympathetic consideration of the needs of others.

Russell Ross was a selfless leader, without vanity, and with an unwavering advocacy for Australian economics. He was a mentor to many, an essential cog for the smooth administrative maintenance of the Australian academic economics community, and a model for both academia and in life. He was a warm and ethical friend of the very many ESA members who are hurting and despondent from his dying, sharing a profound sense of loss.

Sometimes, but very rarely, when we lose colleagues there is a consensus of the very special privilege it is to have known them. Russell Ross is the ESA’s consummate example, our comrade.

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