The RNA is delighted to have Russell heading the accredited panel of judges at the 2010 Royal Queensland Food & Wine Show.

Russell’s passion for primary produce and its origins was first kindled as a 12 year old growing up in Toowoomba, where he helped his father deliver fresh milk collected from a dairy farm on the city’s outskirts, in the morning before school.

An interest in food found him in the family kitchen at an early age learning the basics of wholesome home cooking. It’s not surprising that after University and five years at CSIRO in Canberra he took to the road exploring the cuisines of Asia and Europe during a two year sabbatical.

Returning to Australia in 1980 he set about establishing a garden to provide all the essentials for a family kitchen. Between stints cooking at local restaurants and lecturing in organic gardening techniques at the local TAFE he explored his passion for food and cooking.

1995 saw Russell return overseas, this time to the United Kingdom where he spent two years cooking on several private estates. He came home to Australia in 1997 and bought a delicatessen and cheese distribution business in Canberra.

This led to a total involvement with food producers across Australia. Russell was soon invited to judge cheese at the Royal Adelaide Show which grew into judging pasta, deli meats and a regional food competition. In 2002 he was invited to judge for the Australian Speciality Cheese Association in Melbourne and continues to do so.

In 2006 he was instrumental in helping the South Australian cheese makers set up their own show. He has been Deputy Chief Judge for the Australian Grand Dairy Awards since 2004 and has recently been appointed Master Judge for the New Zealand Cheese Awards. In 2008, Mr Smith was also appointed Chief Judge of the Royal Queensland Dairy Produce Show.

Russell runs regular cheese appreciation courses for the general consumer and restaurant industry. He is a contributing editor to Regional Food Australia Magazine and its website and has a regular regional food segment on ABC Radio in Canberra.