Lesley Russell
Senior Fellow
Dr. Lesley Russell is a Visiting Fellow at American Progress focusing on health care issues. She holds a doctorate in biochemistry from the John Curtain School of Medical Research at Australian National University.
Dr. Russell is the inaugural Menzies Foundation Fellow at the Menzies Centre for Health Policy which is co-located at the University of Sydney and the Australian National University. She is actively involved in health policy research, analysis and commentary across a wide range of issues and a number of collaborations. A particular focus has been on health care reforms in Australia and the U.S, mental health, indigenous health, and the impact of cost on patients’ compliance with their treatment and medication regimes.
She is also a research associate of the U.S. Studies Centre at the University of Sydney and a visiting professor in the Department of Health Policy at George Washington University.
Dr. Russell was previously policy advisor to the Australian Shadow Minister for Health and Manager of Opposition Business in the House, Julia Gillard, MP, now Deputy Prime Minister of Australia. Prior to this, Dr. Russell served as policy advisor to the Leader of the Federal Opposition, the Hon Simon Crean, MP, now Minister for Trade. She has advised across a considerable portfolio including health and aging, population and immigration, indigenous affairs and reconciliation, and multicultural affairs.
Dr. Russell worked in a similar role in the U.S. Congress from 1984 -1991, having been awarded the 1984-85 American Society for Microbiology Congressional Science Fellowship. She worked on the professional staff of the Committee on Energy and Commerce in the House of Representatives, initially on the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, and then on the full Committee, where she had responsibilities for health and biotechnology issues.
Dr. Russell also has extensive experience in internal and external communications, strategic marketing, media management and public affairs. She has managed integrated communications and marketing strategies for the health sector, as manager for public affairs for pharmaceutical company Merck, Sharp & Dohme (Aust) Pty. Ltd., and has held positions in management, policy, planning, and resource development for the NSW Cancer Council, and for major sporting initiatives such as the Sydney Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games and Telstra’s Olympic sponsorship.
