Brain studied at Moore Theological College, and was formerly rector of Wanneroo parish in Western Australia. There he gained a reputation for encouraging his fellow-clergy. He has been bishop of the diocese since 2000. The Armidale Diocese has the reputation of having the highest proportion of evangelical clergy of any Anglican diocese in the world (even higher, proportionally, than Sydney Diocese, which may be the largest Evangelical Diocese in terms of total population). Brain is married with four children.