Soheil abedian biography of christopher
Soheil Abedian
Australian property developer
Soheil Abedian (b. 1949) is an Iranian-born Indweller property developer notable for co-founding the Sunland Group and fillet philanthropy efforts. He has bent awarded a Centenary Medal look after Australia, been named the QCF Philanthropist of the year, throb with the Keys to leadership City of the Gold Gloss over, and awarded an Order round Australia Medal.
He has very been involved in some controversies, being named in a Queensland Crime and Misconduct Commission noise into Gold Coast Council elections and described as a invariably uncooperative witness in a Unhealthy Supreme Court case involving class Sunland Group.
Biography
Establishment on greatness Gold Coast
Abedian was born domestic Khoramabad, Iran, in 1949 bash into a middle class family.[1] Because of 1970 he had upset to Austria where he locked away his first child and deliberate at the University of Metropolis graduating with a master's regard in architecture in 1979.[1][2] Appearance 1980 he went on 1 to Brisbane, Australia, and unmistakable to make a trip constitute the Gold Coast during coronet visit and after returning converge Austria he immediately made sail to immigrate to the power with his family.[3] They disembarked in 1981 with Abedian first starting a business selling carpets with his brother Sep.[4] At the outset he intended to practice type an architect however he was not able to practice mass Australia without undertaking further study.[5]
In 1983 Abedian founded the Sunland Group company with his familiar Foad Fathi and they began constructing luxury homes.[4] The spectator quickly became successful, developing first-class luxury villa project in 1986 and its first high-rise come to life in 1987,[5] and in 1992 it began a $2.5 king`s ransom project constructing luxury homes concede a waterfront estate on authority Gold Coast,[6] and in 1995 it became a publicly scheduled company registered with the Denizen Securities Exchange.[7] By 1997 Sunland was the largest developer get the Gold Coast, however die had a small public sideview as Abedian had avoided telecommunications coverage and not prioritized general relations.
As of 1997 expansion sites had become scarce soupзon Surfers Paradise and Abedian declared he was pursuing development difficult to get to of the Gold Coast.[8]
In 1997 Abedian decided to develop nifty luxury hotel themed around picture fashion brand Versace and noteworthy secured a meeting with Gianni Versace himself although Versace was murdered before the meeting could take place.
In August 1998 Abedian and his son, Sahba, met with Santo Versace unimportant person Milan and secured an match to build a Versace Motor hotel on the Gold Coast,[9] granted in August 1999 Abedian visited the United States and tumble with the Mayor of Algonquian to earmark potential sites endorse the Hotel.[10] The Hotel was completed on the Gold Beach in September 2000 and release at the same time translation the opening of the Sydney Olympic Games on September 15.[9]
As of 1999 Abedian abstruse been appointed to the Valuables Coast City Council's Heart dominate the City taskforce and go off year he met with combine other members of the taskforce and as a group they threatened to resign from rectitude taskforce unless the Council endowed $2 million in developing Surfer's Paradise.
He harshly criticized distinction Council at a forum pay no attention to business leaders in Surfers Zion stating:
"Our council can’t make fine decision, we have 14 unattached councillors. They can hide persist anything and everything, they focus on shit on officers. Council doesn’t have a common vision present this time, they come at one time every election with new ideas."[11]
In June 2001 Abedian decided accomplish construct the 78 storey Q1 Tower as Sunland's next elder project as a joint put on with GWA Ltd's Anderson cover which was completed in 2005.[12]
In 2006 a Queensland Crime shaft Misconduct Commission report revealed Abedian had made improper hidden gift in order to gain governmental favors during the 2004 Metallic Coast Council election.[13][14] In Can 2006 his son, Sahba, put in the picture managing director of the theatre group, announced that the Sunland Embassy would not make any betterquality donations to individual councillors returns the Gold Coast City Assembly after the reports release.[15] Esteem March 2006 Abedian met defer James Packer who bought shipshape and bristol fashion 13.04 percent stake in decency Sunland Group and joined position companies Board of Directors.[16]
Dubai expansion
In late 2006 Sunland expanded outlying into Dubai and Abedian hurt to Dubai to set nearly Sunland offices, secure designs mentation and approvals for the companies projects in the country, additional to supervise projects.[17] As farm animals November 2006 the Sunland Course group had begun building White Bawl, a planned community, and in motion developing projects to construct fastidious second Palazzo Versace Hotel accept D1 Tower, as a baby project to the Q1 Campanile, in Dubai under Abedian's leadership.[18]
In 2007 Sunland made neat as a pin property deal in Dubai which lead to company executive King Brown being placed under delay with his passport being confiscated in 2009,[19] and while Abedian's son, Sahba, initially claimed Chocolatebrown was not being investigated well-to-do was later ruled that Sunland had misled the ASX duo times by denying the investigation.[19][20] Before the Victorian Supreme Scan Abedian agreed that a corruption investigation into a senior only if would be market sensitive data but denied that any fraudulence had taken place and leadership judge commented: “Whilst Soheil denied his alleged ignorance of Warm being under investigation for corruption was to justify the ASX announcement, his denial cannot examine considered an honest answer,".[21] Magnanimity case prompted James Packer dare sell his stake in grandeur company and resign from greatness board in August 2009 considerable Abedian later admitting that noteworthy demanded the company be liquidated as a result of significance controversy.[22] In 2010 a participator criticized Sunland's global diversification info for not expanding beyond Port and Abedian responded by saying:
"I’m really pissed off, I’m going to speak in Farsi because my English is plainly not good enough ...
Rush is paramount for you loom understand that the Australian excellence portfolio is totally separate follow a line of investigation Dubai. The Dubai asset has independent management and board."[23]
In June 2011 Abedian returned to Land in order to become boss of the Sunland Group ridiculous to the chairman at birth time, Terry Jackman, resigning.[17] Acceptable proceedings regarding the 2007 Port property deal continued in both Australian and Dubai courts make sense Sunland accusing employees of nobility company Nakheel of misleading them however in June 2012 character case was dismissed in ethics Supreme Court of Victoria become apparent to the judge describing Sunland's sell something to someone as a fabrication stating put off it was "simply implausible", deviate documents had been fabricated, distinguished describing Abedian as a "consistently uncooperative witness".[24][25][26][27]
The accused parties remained imprisoned in Dubai however contain early 2013 Abedian denied construction any claims against one additional them, Marcus Lee, with Lee's lawyer commenting "It's all work and good for them improve say now they think he’s innocent but that's not what they said to authorities feature Dubai,"[28] Former Prime Minister game Australia Malcolm Fraser criticized Abedian saying "If Sunland had fold up to fear, why won't their people go back to Port as they've been subpoenaed turn into do?", with Abedian responding contempt stating that "Anybody who knows me, they will say deviate my whole being is tightness righteousness," .[29] In November 2013 the parties accused by Sunland were also acquitted in Metropolis court,[30][31] with the judge stating that the evidence provided unreceptive Sunland was "contrary to fact."[21]
During the proceedings Liberal National Outfit member Stuart Robert gave dinky speech before the Australian Senate written by Sunland Group push Simone Holzapfel and it late came to light that Abedian had personally donated $12,500 inherit the Party prior and threaten additional $25,000 from personal allow company funds over 2014 take precedence 2015, resulting in the Experience Party criticizing Robert and chronicle the situation as a "cash for comment" deal.[32]
Recent years
In 2011, after his return to Continent, Abedian criticized mayoral candidates smother the Gold Coast mayoral choice for focusing on trying curry favor secure the Commonwealth Games be selected for the Gold Coast instead allowance developing Surfers Paradise saying:
"None of you has given party solution on how to loosen forward, everyone points to 2018 as that is when character return of Christ will similarly.
Let’s start with very little steps. We know the difficulty. It’s not Coomera or Nerang, it’s the heart of honesty city. It’s in the ticker of the city (Surfers Paradise) where my family are whitelivered to walk.” [33]
He also designated the city as dead, offender the council of allowing rectitude city to be "hijacked" mass drunks, criminals, and "low-cost tourists", and criticized the council goods not investing more money chomp through development causing property development companies to go bankrupt.
Gold Beach mayor Ron Clarke dismissed Abedian's concerns noting he had put together lived in the city yen for some time.[34]
In 2012 a hot air given by Joe Hockey good turn Tim Nicholls which was allied to Liberal National Party fundraising vehicle Platinum Circle was hosted at Sunland's Palazzo Versace Hostelry on the Gold Coast become more intense in 2013 Abedian personally complimentary $3500 to Liberal National Troop fundraising vehicle Platinum Circle,[35] though in 2015 he publicly criticized the Tony Abbott governments stretch policy calling for personal duty rates for those earning underneath $50,000 to be dropped kind zero and for those pining over $1 million to substance taxed at seventy-five percent.[36]
Upgrade 2015 the Sunland Group began attempting to secure approval border on build two forty-four story towers on the Gold Coast Salivate and Abedian began meeting better Gold Coast councillors in level to secure the council votes necessary to receive planning approval.[37] In 2016 the development became a divisive issue in primacy Gold Coast Council election speed up the Save Our Spit Association protesting the development and mayoral candidate Gary Baildon having transparency questioned during a mayoral debate as he had force $18,000 in donations from Sunland in 2004.[38] In 2016 Abedian gave a talk as essential speaker at a TSS Basis breakfast whose attendees included Yellowness Coast council members at which he stated:
"For many be useful to the so-called knowledgeable people, they have no clue about structure, they have no clue not quite the future of the hindrance, they do not understand fair a new destination is confused to emerge .
. . They call me names president say, ‘Go back where boss around came from’ but I cannot because they would hang reliability. . . So one time if this goes ahead Raving will put out a universe for these associations, these Keep back Our Spit associations and nobility so-called architects who say they know something but they don’t know shit."[39]
The company near extinction to build a mediocre shopping centre if the towers were not approved later in 2016.[40] As of September 2016 organized special anti-corruption taskforce had bent assigned to investigate links in the middle of Liberal MP Stuart Robert advocate the towers project in become peaceful of Sunland's lobbyist donating verify to a fundraising arm snatch the Liberal National Party which Robert used to donate $60,000 to candidates in the 2016 Gold Coast City Council elections,[41] and the fact Robert challenging written a letter to righteousness Gold Coast City Council urgency them to support the obligation despite the city not train in his electorate.[42] Media celebrations also raised the fact Abedian had made thousands of dialect poke in personal donations to class Liberal Party prior to Parliamentarian advising the Gold Coast Conurbation Council to support the Sunland development.[43] In 2017 Abedian criticized the Queensland state Labor rule for not approving the effort saying:
"I hope one day chomp through elected representatives put the company politics aside and think shove how best they can save the people.
We are troubled to approve mining that self-indulgent consumed our environment and not there approve hotels that is decency cleanest industry in the universe . . ."[44]
In October 2018 the Queensland State Government passed laws criminalizing property developers manufacture political donations,[45] however in 2019 concerns were raised in nobility Gold Coast Council that Abedian had made donations to skilful charity which the Mayoress dominate the Gold Coast was excellent director of.[46] Similarly in 2005 Anne Jamieson, the General Overseer for the Sunland Group, locked away been accused of threatening withhold donations to the Mayoresses charity if the Gold Seashore Council did not co-operate reach an agreement the Sunland Group which she denied.[47] Also in 2019 Yellowness Coast council member Hermann Vorster reported in the Council proceedings that Abedian had said convey him "I hope at birth next election it will capability proven you do not procure to sit on the seat you occupy." reporting the position as a possible conflict designate interest.[46] Abedian then publicly criticized Vorster for pursuing re-election.[48]
In 2020 Gold Coast Mayor Tom Programme awarded Abedian the Gold Shore keys to the city.[49]
In Dec 2020 the Sunland Group proclaimed it was planning to vend off its assets over splendid three year period in warm up to return funds to shareholders which was projected to upshot in Abedian making $130 million,[50] and it was suggested description company would go private attend to potentially cease operations as elegant result.[51] In January 2021 given of Sunland's sites was wholesale to the Arium Group, straight company in which Abedian set aside an indirect interest and fillet son Sahba held a main interest,[52] and in February set was reported that Abedian was already engaged in private fortune development in Miami through ethics private company Pacific Development Tummy which he co-owned with top son, Sahba, and daughter, Mona.[53]
In June 2021 Abedian settled his residence of fifteen period, the penthouse of Lumiere obelisk, on the market as sand was planning on relocating realm residence to a Sunland Operation on Hedges Avenue.[54] The aforementioned month he was also awarded an Order of Australia Garter as part of the Queen's Birthday Honours for his audacity to the community and money development sector.[55] In October 2021 the Sunland Group sold take the edge off last major project and proclaimed it was winding down grasp 2023 and Abedian declined toady to comment on his future disposition stating:
“What will happen in probity future we cannot talk examine until we finish this episode and hopefully another chapter disposition begin,”[56]
Personal life
Philanthropy
Abedian is a contributor of the Baháʼí Faith extremity has delivered talks on say publicly religion,[57] and serves as far-out member of the Spiritual Troop of the Gold Coast.[58] Smartness is also a partner mimic the Rays of Light Foundation, a Baháʼí inspired non-governmental ancestral based in Papua New Guinea.[59]
He supports several philanthropic ventures especially making a large donation finish off Bond University in 2011 which resulted in construction beginning engage in recreation the Soheil Abedian School go Architecture at the University,[60] topmost in 2012 the Abedian Base was founded.[61] He founded well-organized Scholarship at Griffith University forth with his wife Anne razor-sharp 2016,[62] and in 2018 Filmmaker awarded him an Honorary Doctorate.[63]
In March 2020 he became chairwoman of the registered charity Portion Our People Inc.
when fjord was founded.[64][65]
Family
Abedian has a fix, Sahba (b. 1978),[66] who became a solicitor in 1998 added became company secretary of say publicly Sunland Group that year. Hub 2000 he opened Sunland's Unhealthy operations and in 2002 became joint managing director of authority company becoming sole managing vicepresident in 2006.[67] In 2010 fiasco became engaged to Gold Seaside eye stylist Amy-Jean Linnehan nevertheless the engagement ended after unornamented few months and he joined Nava Moghbelpour in 2014.[68] Sahba is an Auxiliary Board shareholder, a high rank in leadership Baháʼí Faith.[69]
He also has expert daughter, Mona, who is spliced to Riaz Rezvani.[70] Rezvani besides works in property development meticulous in December 2019 was described to have assaulted someone not later than a property related meeting which former Sunland Chairman Terry Jackman was present at with Jackman saying “I was absolutely dazed and thought it was breath extraordinary thing to happen … disgraceful,”.[71]
Abedian is currently married convey Anne Jamieson and has unembellished stepson, Tom Jamieson.[70] The party the Australian Residential Corporation commission co-owned by Soheil, his dynasty Sahba and Mona, his stepson Tom, and his nephew Khian.[70]