Paul has enjoyed a successful career in both the private and public sectors, helping hundreds of small and medium businesses (and more recently tech startups) to position their businesses in competitive markets, develop strategies to grow domestically and internationally, engage with larger corporations and government agencies, and access government grants and other support available to their businesses.

Appointed as one of first Business Advisors to the Queensland Government’s Small Business Development Corporation in the late 1980’s, Paul advised hundreds of small business owners and intenders to appraise their businesses and ideas, develop business and marketing plans, cashflow forecasting/troubleshooting, access finance and specialist services.

Whilst at the SBDC, Paul completed a Master of Business Administration (MBA) undertaking his research project on family-held businesses (one of the first studies undertaken in Australia at the time). His report “The Transition from Founder to Professional Management in Family Companies” analysed the old adage that it takes three generations to bring down a family business - interviewing the leaders and next generation members of several high profile Queensland families in business to complete the study. The findings were quite revealing!

Paul was heavily involved in the professional services sector when the Australian legal services market was opened to competition. As Practice Development Manager for one of Queensland’s oldest and largest law firms, he worked closely with the partners and led the firm’s transition programs to counter interstate and international competitors, introducing client relationship management and marketing/communication strategies, on-line services, and internal training programs.

Paul moved on to spend ten highly productive and rewarding years with the national industry and employer association – the Australian Industry Group. He developed new member services for particular sector groups including processed food, steel fabrication, mining equipment, and energy. He successfully forged partnerships with both Queensland and Australian industry and innovation departments to co-fund a number of business development and compliance programs, including business networks, commercialising technologies, quality management, exporting and environmental/eco-efficiency programs. Paul also authored many policy submissions to government and managed the corporate governance and reporting arrangements for the Branch Council. During his time with AiGroup, Queensland membership grew by +25%.

Paul joined the Queensland Government in 2003, holding several Senior Executive Service (SES) positions up until he retired from the government in January 2020. During his tenure Paul lead business units responsible for strategic policy and program delivery in the areas of export development, advanced manufacturing, cleantech, nanotech, digital and creative industries, government procurement, and the digital economy. Paul also played an integral part in the design and development of technology parks and innovation precincts in south-east Queensland, including the Brisbane Technology Park, the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct and The Precinct (Fortitude Valley). Most recently, he was responsible for managing a diverse portfolio of Advance Queensland business and university innovation funding programs valued at over $160M, with a large and dynamic client base across the state.

Over several decades of experience and interaction with thousands of businesses, industry, government, university, community and regional organisations and contacts across Queensland and internationally, Paul has built a substantial professional network.

Paul Russell Business Networks Pty Ltd has been established by Paul to assist Queensland businesses, enterpreneurs, economic development bodies and governments to achieve their business goals and projects by fully leveraging the quality and depth of his networks.