Born in Ayrshire and educated at Ardrossan Academy and Aberdeen University, where he specialised in studies into cultural interactions, particularly in East Central Africa.
He pioneered the concept of 'travelling curator' with the Scottish Country Life Museums Trust, assisted by the Carnegie UK Trust. In this role he helped to develop Auchindrain Museum in Argyll, and to write the interpretive plan for Biggar Museums Trust.
From 1976-2003, he was curator of the Highland Folk Museum, Kingussie. He developed the concept of 'Heritage in Action' programmes, whereby traditional crafts, skills, music, etc. become a daily part of the museum’s interpretive techniques. Special heritage programmes for schools have been developed, where children can participate. The foregoing concepts have led directly to the establishment of the Highland Folk Park (Highland Folk Museum, Newtonmore) as a development of the Highland Folk Museum.
Ross was a Council member of the Association of European Open-Air Museums, and is a Past President of the Society of Folk Life Studies. His main areas of academic interest lie in traditional buildings and their furniture. He has a particular interest in the use of natural, local, materials, and the concept of sustainability in the traditional building practices and furniture-making skills of Scottish Highlanders.
Heritage training has been a major interest for many years. He is a founder member of Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions (ASVA), and chaired the Training & Development Committee. He served on the Scottish Vocational Educational Council sector board, and was involved in the establishment of Tourism Training Scotland. From 1991-97 he was a member of the Standards and Qualifications Committee of the Museums’ Training Institute.
Since his retirement in 2003, Ross has served on the Historic Environment Advisory Council for Scotland. Locally, he has been a trustee (and latterly vice-chairman) of the Newtonmore Community Woodland and Development Trust. He stepped down from both in 2009, after six years in office.
He is currently a member of the UNESCO Scotland Committee Network.