Anthony Russell
Malak,Australia
Summary
Seasoned Operations Manager with background in streamlining business processes to improve efficiency and profitability. Skilled at managing teams, reducing operational costs, and implementing strategic business plans. Strengths include leadership, problem-solving skills, and ability to make impactful decisions that drive company growth.
Overview
36
36
years of professional experience
Work History
Operations Manager
Austal
Darwin
10.2025 - Current
- Oversaw operational aspects of business, ensuring timely delivery of ship maintenance and in-service support for Navy and Australian Border Force (ABF) vessels.
Area Manager – Southern Gas & Diesels
Snowy Hydro Limited
04.2024 - 09.2025
- Lead and manage the operations, engineering, planning and maintenance functions of Gas & Diesel sites ensuring the safe local operation of generating assets.
- Managed the operation and maintenance of Gas & Diesel Assets in Victoria and South Australia, overseeing Valley (6 x 50MW Generators), Laverton (2 x 160MW Generators), and Diesel Assets at Pt Stanvac (36 x 1.8MW Generators), Lonsdale (18 x 1.1MW Generators), and Angaston (30 x 1.8MW Generators) Power stations.
- Managed site resource plans, policies, and budget, overseeing contracts and regional capital works delivery.
- Led contractor management and engagement, implementing cost-saving initiatives across Gas & Diesel sites.
Area Manager – Upper Tumut Region
Snowy Hydro Limited
06.2021 - 03.2024
- Accountable for the operation and maintenance of Tumut 1 & Tumut 2 Power stations and supporting hydro generation assets including Dams & Aqueducts.
- Lead and manage the operations, engineering, planning and maintenance functions of the region ensuring the safe local operation of generating, pumping and hydraulic assets.
- Lead the regions Engineering, Planning & Scheduling, Assurance and Mechanical, Electrical and Civil maintenance teams.
- Developed and managed regional resource plans, policies & procedures, budgets (OPEX & CAPEX), contracts & engagement, and regional capital works delivery.
- Led identification of technical and process improvements for regional maintenance work in accordance with work review process.
- Represented business at community functions, engaging with local media and managing relationships with stakeholders including councils, emergency authorities, contractors, neighbours, and network providers.
Manager Regional Support & Major Overhauls
Snowy Hydro Limited
09.2018 - 06.2021
- Led multi-disciplined maintenance team to deliver Integrated Outage Schedule, resource plans, policies, procedures, budget management (OPEX & CAPEX), and contract management for key operational maintenance services, enhancing support for maintenance activities across hydro generating assets.
- Delivered major overhauls of generation assets across regional operations, ensuring alignment with operational standards and maintenance requirements.
- Delivered maintenance support services across regional operations (hydro, diesel & gas) to facilitate plant outages and maintenance requirements, ensuring timely execution and compliance with safety standards.
- Working with key Stakeholders, provide visibility of a long term (≥ 2 Years) Integrated Outage Schedule and Resource Plan.
- Oversaw contracts for maintenance services, ensuring compliance with service agreements. for maintenance services in regional operations, ensuring compliance with terms and conditions.
- Delivered asset commissioning services to return assets safely to operational status.
Manager Maintenance
Snowy Hydro Limited
10.2016 - 09.2018
- Working on a Drive In Drive Out (DIDO) arrangement, manage a team of electrical & mechanical trades/technicians, protection technicians, plant access coordinators and civil hydro maintainers responsible for the safe and timely execution of all preventive and corrective maintenance activities to support regional hydro assets.
- Executed scheduled maintenance on time, aligning with regional work plan and quality standards.
- Allocated resources to plant breakdowns, facilitating prompt return to service and meeting market requirements.
- Provided resources for timely development and review of weekly work plans and schedules.
- Facilitate and lead both site and business incident investigations.
- Continually seek, identify and implement regional improvement opportunities to improve safety, personnel and equipment performance.
- Communicated with external stakeholders to support regional minor and major project execution.
Superintendent Reliability
BHP Billiton, Mt Arthur Coal
10.2012 - 09.2016
- Led team of engineers in applying reliability analysis, monitoring plant and equipment condition, and conducting root cause analysis to enhance work strategies.
- Developed and managed Mine Maintenance operating and capital budgets to ensure alignment with operational goals.
- Accountable for ensuring Asset Management strategies are sufficiently defined to deliver a maintenance budget which will form part of the overall operational budget.
- Initiate engineering requests to the Engineering Function to improve equipment safety and reliability or to seek solutions through modifications to the plant/equipment design.
- Managed and investigated reported events that met business investigation criteria.
- Ensure statutory/legislative compliance for all plant and equipment requirements owned by the Maintenance Function.
- Support the Maintenance Execution Sub-function, including the development of operating procedures and work instructions, and training in those procedures.
- Develop & maintain close working relationships with maintenance execution and production teams.
- Reported on equipment performance, major events, and trends to inform decision-making and continuous improvement.
- Participate in key OEM contract performance reviews.
Superintendent Field Maintenance (Seconded)
BHP Billiton, Mt Arthur Coal
09.2015 - 02.2016
- Manage a team of maintenance technicians responsible for the safe and timely execution of all preventive and corrective maintenance activities to support the field equipment fleets of excavators, drill rigs and electric rope shovels.
- Managed work centre capacity and controlled the weekly work schedule to deliver work management plans and address unplanned breakdowns.
- Ensure the safe and effective execution of Field maintenance activities in line with production requirements and plans.
- Deliver required equipment performance within the allocated budget to support the business plan.
- Provided input into field equipment maintenance strategies and medium-term planning to align maintenance efforts with operational goals.
- Managed the Field Maintenance operating budget.
- Oversaw reporting activities to keep maintenance and operations management informed of significant operational performance issues; ensured correct and consistent application of critical controls by all teams.
Superintendent Reliability
BHP Billiton, Olympic Dam Expansion Project (ODP1)
01.2012 - 10.2012
- Provide input/review project plans including Mine Maintenance Operational Readiness Plan.
- Lead development of mobile equipment maintenance work strategies utilising a Reliability Centred Maintenance (RCM) approach.
- Accountable for ensuring Asset Management strategies are sufficiently defined to deliver a maintenance budget which will form part of the overall operational budget.
- Reviewed mobile equipment to identify safety-critical systems, enhancing safety protocols.
- Reviewed equipment RCM and Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMECA) outputs.
- Develop Reliability Improvement processes and procedures.
- Developed business processes supporting maintenance work strategy and Management of Change (MOC) using Availability Workbench (AWB) models.
- Provided input for zero-based budget development for mobile fleet using iSolutions AMT Software, ensuring alignment with operational financial goals.
- Lead Maintenance Work Instruction development and review.
Maintenance Planning/Reliability Superintendent
Mt Gibson Iron – Koolan Island (Open Pit), WA
, Australia
01.2011 - 10.2012
- Manage a team of Mobile and Fixed Plant Maintenance Planner/Schedulers responsible for short and long term maintenance planning for prime assets.
- Managed planning and scheduling system to control maintenance activities, including inspections, testing, predictive maintenance, preventive maintenance, corrective maintenance, shutdowns, and contractor work.
- Manage and monitor planned maintenance schedules for all mobile and fixed plant equipment.
- Established and managed maintenance baselines for all prime assets to ensure operational reliability.
- Development and management of Maintenance Plans to support business objectives.
- Establish continuous improvement and innovative approaches in asset maintenance management, including RCM, FMECA and Task Analysis.
- Lead and conduct Root Cause Analysis (RCA) investigations to determine component failure causes.
- Conduct shutdown schedule analysis identifying critical path slippage and high risk areas recommending recovery and mitigation plans.
- Project managed capital expenditure tasks and shutdowns for mobile and fixed assets to support operational efficiency.
- Establishment and management of Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) for Planning Department functions.
Principal Technical Officer
ASC Shipbuilding – Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD)
01.2009 - 01.2011
- Lead development of Commonwealth Asset Management Deliverables including but not limited to the following: Supply Support Development Plan (SSDP), Support and Test Equipment Plan (S&TEP), Life Cycle Cost Management Plan (LCCMP), Class Maintenance Plan (CMP).
- Supervised and coordinated outputs from RCM and FMECA processes to ensure compliance with operational standards.
- Supervised and coordinated Technical Officers in conducting Maintenance Task Analysis (MTA) to enhance operational efficiency and maintenance of AWD.
- Supervised and coordinated Technical Officers in developing technical documentation (Maintenance Instructions, Technical Equipment Manuals, System Manuals) to support AWD systems and equipment.
- Supervise and coordinate spares analysis and optimisation to ensure recommendations meet the AWD mission profile in conjunction with equipment operational requirements.
- Oversaw creation of department processes, work instructions, and product guides to ensure consistency and quality across all deliverables.
- Supervise and coordinate subcontractor data reviews, to determine suitability, acceptability and compliance to delivery requirements.
- Collaborated with suppliers to collect data and insights on equipment performance. to gather data and insights on equipment performance. and data collection visits to a number of European equipment suppliers.
- Administered personnel records and activities for ILS staff to ensure operational efficiency. for ILS staff to ensure smooth operations.
Lead Analyst
ASC Shipbuilding – Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD)
01.2006 - 01.2009
- Leading role in development of a Support System Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), estimates & budgets to enable the management of the Support System program.
- Conduct Reliability Engineering analysis including Reliability Block Diagram (RBD) development, RCM and Failure Modes and Effect Analysis (FMEA).
- Applied Reliability Analysis concepts and processes to facilitate development of ILS products.
- Assessment and review of vendor Request for Tender (RFT) responses and conduct of vendor contract negotiations.
- Developed ILS contract documentation to align with Asset Management Strategy.
- Review and develop impact assessments of Contract Amendment Proposals (CAP) and Engineering Change Proposals (ECP).
- Assessed, developed, and implemented ILS Data Management System to enhance development and delivery of ILS products.
- Analysis and assessment of Ship Designers CMMS and deliverable data.
Senior Technical Officer
ASC Pty Ltd – COLLINS Class Submarines
01.2004 - 01.2006
- Planned, developed, and maintained technical documentation (Depot Level Maintenance Instructions, Technical Equipment Manuals, System Manuals) to support submarine systems and equipment.
- Analyse, plan and conduct Maintenance Task Analysis (MTA) for systems and equipment fitted to the submarine for the identified levels of maintenance.
- Assess, develop and optimise spares and support equipment data to produce Recommended Spares Provisioning Lists (RSPL) for support of the submarines.
- Conducted vendor negotiations to resolve technical issues impacting submarine maintenance.
Mechanical Superintendent
Visy Industries
01.2000 - 01.2004
Mechanical Superintendent
National Foods
01.1998 - 01.2000
Mechanical Supervisor
Perry Engineering Ship Repair
01.1996 - 01.1998
Apprentice Fitter and Turner
01.1990 - 01.1993
Reserves
Royal Australian Army
01.1990 - 01.1992
Education
Diploma of Quality Auditing - Manage People Performance, Ensure Team Effectiveness
Graduate Certificate in Maintenance Management -
Central Queensland University
Fluid Power Bridging Program -
Fitting and Machining Trade Certificate -
Skills
- Leading Teams - Developing a High Performing Team
- Leading Teams - Leading Leaders Program
- NSW Energy Coal Leading Step Up
- NSW Energy Coal Leadership Excellence at the Asset
- NSW Energy Coal Leadership Program
- Caterpillar Applied Failure Analysis Training
- ICAM Incident Lead Investigator Training Program
- Availability Workbench (AWB) Reliability Software
- ISolutions Asset Management Tool (AMT)
- Relex Reliability Studio
- Microsoft Office Suite (incl Project)
- CMMS – Mainpac
- CMMS – SIMS
- CMMS – Raytheon Eagle
- CMMS – Oracle
- CMMS – Pronto
- CMMS – SAP
- CMMS – Ellipse
- Asset Management & Maintenance
- Effective Workplace Leadership
- Time Management
- Recruitment and Interview Skills
- Writing Right
- Technical Authoring Course
References
Available on Request
Projects
BHP Billiton, Mt Arthur Coal Transformation program, Key leadership role in delivering an $AU120 million reduction in Maintenance costs lowering overall Operating costs. Olympic Dam Open Pit Project (ODP1), With an estimated total project value of $AU20 billion, responsibilities included development of operating budgets, manning & infrastructure requirements, equipment performance & benchmarking in support of the Maintenance/Operational Readiness program. AWD Alliance, With a value of $AU8 billion the project involved provision of three Navantia designed HOBART Class AWD ships (plus support facilities) in an Alliance between the Defence Materiel Office Raytheon Australia and ASC. COLLINS Class Submarine multi-billion Through Life Support program, For the ongoing design enhancements, maintenance and support of the submarines until the end of their operational lives.
Skills Courses
- Leading Teams - Developing a High Performing Team
- Leading Teams - Leading Leaders Program
- NSW Energy Coal Leading Step Up
- NSW Energy Coal Leadership Excellence at the Asset
- NSW Energy Coal Leadership Program
- Caterpillar Applied Failure Analysis Training
- ICAM Incident Lead Investigator Training Program
- Availability Workbench (AWB) Reliability Software
- ISolutions Asset Management Tool (AMT)
- Relex Reliability Studio
- Microsoft Office Suite (incl. Project)
- CMMS – Mainpac, SIMS, Raytheon Eagle, Oracle, Pronto, SAP, Ellipse
- Asset Management & Maintenance
- Effective Workplace Leadership
- Time Management
- Recruitment and Interview Skills
- Writing Right, Technical Authoring Course
Education Courses
- 2012, RIIOHS301A – Conduct Safety and Health Investigations (ICAM)
- 2009, Diploma of Quality Auditing Modules: Manage People Performance, Ensure Team Effectiveness
- 2005, Graduate Certificate in Maintenance Management (Central Queensland University)
- 1993, Fluid Power Bridging Program
- 1993, Fitting and Machining Trade Certificate
Timeline
Operations Manager
Austal
10.2025 - Current
Area Manager – Southern Gas & Diesels
Snowy Hydro Limited
04.2024 - 09.2025
Area Manager – Upper Tumut Region
Snowy Hydro Limited
06.2021 - 03.2024
Manager Regional Support & Major Overhauls
Snowy Hydro Limited
09.2018 - 06.2021
Manager Maintenance
Snowy Hydro Limited
10.2016 - 09.2018
Superintendent Field Maintenance (Seconded)
BHP Billiton, Mt Arthur Coal
09.2015 - 02.2016
Superintendent Reliability
BHP Billiton, Mt Arthur Coal
10.2012 - 09.2016
Superintendent Reliability
BHP Billiton, Olympic Dam Expansion Project (ODP1)
01.2012 - 10.2012
Maintenance Planning/Reliability Superintendent
Mt Gibson Iron – Koolan Island (Open Pit), WA
01.2011 - 10.2012
Principal Technical Officer
ASC Shipbuilding – Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD)
01.2009 - 01.2011
Lead Analyst
ASC Shipbuilding – Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD)
01.2006 - 01.2009
Senior Technical Officer
ASC Pty Ltd – COLLINS Class Submarines
01.2004 - 01.2006
Mechanical Superintendent
Visy Industries
01.2000 - 01.2004
Mechanical Superintendent
National Foods
01.1998 - 01.2000
Mechanical Supervisor
Perry Engineering Ship Repair
01.1996 - 01.1998
Apprentice Fitter and Turner
01.1990 - 01.1993
Reserves
Royal Australian Army
01.1990 - 01.1992
Diploma of Quality Auditing - Manage People Performance, Ensure Team Effectiveness
Graduate Certificate in Maintenance Management -
Central Queensland University