Bond University’s Deputy Director of Sport Luca Liussi has realised a long-held ambition with his appointment as CEO of Surfing Queensland.
A passionate surfer, Mr Liussi arrived at Bond in 2017 after roles with the Italian Rugby Federation, the Queensland Reds and Rugby Australia.
He reshaped the Bond University Rugby Club over eight years and helped establish Australia’s premier women’s rugby program.
As the university’s Director of Rugby, Mr Liussi applied high performance principles learned at the Azzurri and Rugby Australia to club rugby.
He led the expansion of the Bond women’s program from a Sevens side to 15s with extraordinary success.
The Bull Sharks won the Queensland Premier Women’s Rugby 15s Premiership in 2022, 2023 and 2024 and the Australian Club Championship in 2023 and 2024.
The university also won the women’s Queensland Sevens championship, known as the Charlotte Caslick Cup, from 2022 to 2024.
The men’s program collected trophies too, winning the U18s and Third Grade premierships in 2024.
Bull Sharks players have gone on to higher honours with the Reds, the Wallabies, the Australian Sevens side and the national Paralympic side, the Steelers.
But it has been achievements off the field that Mr Liussi is most proud of.
“The women’s program has had real on-field success but beyond the wins we had the impact of bringing women into what was a male-dominated environment,” he said.
“The club embraced it and the men embraced it. There was mutual respect and support, and that’s what you want in a club.”
Bond University Vice Chancellor and President Professor Tim Brailsford said Mr Liussi should be proud of the strong legacy he leaves at the club.
“Luca has provided outstanding service to the club and overseen a considerable period of expansion and development,” Professor Brailsford said.
“We speak about the club being a pathway to higher aspirations which extends beyond our players, to coaches and to management staff.
“Luca is moving into a CEO role in a sport for which he holds a passion. We thank him and wish him well.”
Bond University Director of Sport Michael Collins said he was sad to lose Mr Liussi but proud to see him appointed CEO of a state sporting organisation.
"Luca leaves behind an amazing legacy at Bond University Rugby Club and, more recently, across Bond Sport,” Mr Collins said.
“He has been the architect behind the club’s many successes, including the establishment of our women's champion team, our first John Eales Scholarship Wallaby, and the introduction of a wheelchair rugby team to the club.
“Luca departs with our best wishes for his new role and all his future endeavours."
Mr Liussi started playing rugby as a child on the Gold Coast and at 19 went to Italy to play club rugby for what was supposed to be six months. He stayed for 11 years.
While playing in Rome, he learned the Azzurri’s Kiwi coach was struggling to communicate effectively with his players.
Fluent in Italian as the child of immigrants, Mr Liussi went to the Azzurri team’s hotel during a Six Nations tournament and introduced himself, offering to help as a translator.
The coach asked him to run messages during an Italy-Ireland match and he eventually became team manager of the Italian national side.
Returning home to Australia, Mr Liussi spent almost nine years with Rugby Australia.
He served as Team Manager for the Australian men’s and women’s Sevens programs, helping to develop the women’s program from its infancy to Olympic gold at the Rio Games.
But surfing has been his first love since Year 6 when he borrowed a neighbour’s board to surf at Palm Beach on the Gold Coast.
“When I was with the Aussie 7s, we'd go to South Africa every year,” he said.
“I bought a second-hand board and left it with our liaison officer over there so I could surf when we turned up.
“Wherever I went around the world with rugby, I’d always get to know someone in the surfing community and they’d lend me a board or a wetsuit.”
Mr Liussi’s appointment as CEO of Surfing Queensland is a dream job.
“I’ve always wanted to end up in surfing – that was the long-term goal,” he said.
“It’s an industry I’m passionate about and fascinated by – the financial models, the global participation, the lifestyle – it’s a sport with real energy and innovation.
“This job came up at the right time and the rugby club is in a good place.
“I’m not walking away from something unfinished, and that made the decision easier.”
Mr Liussi begins his new role on July 14 – following a quick surf trip to North Stradbroke Island.