He is a talented badminton player and is able to forget about work when he is on the court.
"That is the key for me in my job," Ross (52) told the Otago Daily Times after winning his second singles gold medal in badminton at the Masters Games yesterday.
"I like to live a balanced life," he said.
"I like to do things with my family, enjoy my sport as well as work."
Ross is also a member of the New Zealand Masters Games board.
He has played badminton since the age of 15 and played for New Zealand in the Thomas Cup and world championships from 1979-81.
He won the New Zealand men's doubles title in 1986.
He has many Masters Games golds and displays them around his home.
"They are draped over the door handles, around the clock and on the phone," he said.
"Badminton is my passion.
"I just love the game.
"I enjoy the competition, have friends around the world.
"It is an important part of my lifestyle."
At the World Masters Games in Sydney last year, Ross won a gold medal in the teams event and a bronze in the mixed doubles.
In Melbourne in 2002, he won gold in the mixed doubles, and in Edmonton in 2006 he won the singles.
Ross works hard at his fitness and runs, cycles and plays golf to keep in shape.
Ross won gold medals in the men's over-35 and over-50 grades.
The other medals in the over-50 grade went to Invercargill's Doug Hamilton (silver) and Lindsay Hazley (bronze).
Other gold medallists in badminton singles yesterday included Murray Hale (Dunedin) in the men's 60-plus social grade, Kris White (Auckland) in the women's over-50 competition and Christine Wallace (Christchurch) in the women's over-45 grade.
