Enid Russell-Smith was born in Esher, Surrey, 3 March 1903, the daughter of Arthur Russell-Smith and Constance Mary Dilke. She was educated at St Felix School, Southwold, and Newnham College, Cambridge, 1922-5.

In 1925 she became one of the first women to enter the Civil Service by competitive examination and joined the Ministry of Health as Assistant Principal. She remained in the Ministry of Health and was promoted to Private Secretary to the Permanent Secretary, 1930-4; Principal, 1934-9; and Assistant Secretary, from 1939. During the Second World War she was involved in organising the evacuation of children from major cities to the country. She also played an important role in the post-war establishment of the National Health Service. She was Principal Assistant Secretary; Under-Secretary, 1946-57; and Deputy Secretary, 1957-63.

She retired from the Civil Service in 1963 and became Principal of St Aidan's College, Durham University, 1963-70. She continued as a part-time Lecturer in Politics at Durham until 1986. She died at her home in the city, 12 July 1989.

She was an honorary fellow of Newnham College, Cambridge, 1974-89. She was appointed DBE, 1953.

Her publications include: "Modern Bureaucracy: the Home Civil Service" (1974).