Suriel was born in Port Said, Egypt. When he was three his family migrated to Sydney where they were founding members of St Mary and St Mina, the first Coptic Orthodox church in Australia.[1] He was educated at Marrickville West Public School, Tempe High School, the University of Sydney where he was awarded a Bachelor of Science, and the Sydney Institute of Education where he achieved a Diploma of Education. He taught mathematics at Fairvale and Dulwich high schools.