Other names Jim Brusasco Spouse Patricia Brusasco Ethnicity Italian | Occupation Pharmacist Children Mark Brusasco Name Ian Brusasco | |
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Full Name Italo Prospero Brusasco Alma mater University of Queensland | ||
Education University of Queensland | ||
Ian Brusasco AO is an Australian businessman.
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Early life
Ian Brusasco was born Italo Prospero Brusasco in 1928 to parents from the small Italian town of Cuccaro Monferrato (his cousin Pier Giuseppe Brusasco was mayor of the town until 2009). Brusasco attended St Joseph's College, Nudgee where he played in the Rugby First XV.
After initially intending to study medicine, Brusasco changed to pharmacy. He qualified as a pharmacist in 1955 and opened his own pharmacy soon after. He expanded and eventually owned several pharmacies in the Brisbane area.
He is the father of Mark Brusasco (born 24 August 1960) who played international football for Australia in 1980.
Politics
Brusasco served as an alderman in the Brisbane City Council for over a decade during the 1960s and 1970s.
In the early 1980s, Brusasco founded Labor Holdings, a fund designed to provide the Australian Labor Party in Queensland with a continuous source of income.
Rugby career
Brusasco played for the University of Queensland Rugby Club and represented Queensland. There was once speculation that he would be selected for the Australian team; however, a bout of hepatitis spelt an end to his rugby career.
Soccer administration
Brusasco is a former president of Soccer Australia (now Football Federation Australia). While president of Soccer Australia he was also vice-president of the Oceania Football Confederation.
Honours
On 26 January 1988, Brusasco was named a Member of the Order of Australia "in recognition of service to the sport of soccer". On 1 January 2001, he was awarded the Centenary Medal for "distinguished service to business and commerce". On 11 June 2012, he was named an Officer of the Order of Australia for "distinguished service to the community of Queensland through leadership roles with a range of public administration, sporting and charitable organisations, particularly Foodbank Queensland".