Born in Carlton, Victoria,[3] Birmingham made his international debut at the 2003 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, placing 84th in the junior race.
[5] At the 2008 IAAF World Cross Country Championships he took 73rd place and he participated in the 2008 Olympic Games in the 5000 metres event but failed to qualify for the final.
[3] He set his fourth personal best of the year at the Great North Run, reaching seventh place with a time of 61:25 minutes.
[11] In August 2013, Birmingham attended the London Marathon Young Athletes Training Camp at St Mary's University College, Twickenham as a special guest and was interviewed by 80–90 potential future running stars.
He currently lives in Australia but comes to England for 6 weeks in the summer to train; often at St Mary's University College, Twickenham in London.