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Sunland Group and Abedian & Co founder Soheil Abedian will be recognised for a lifetime of visionary leadership and industry impact at The Urban Developer’s Urbanity-25 conference on the Gold Coast in July.
The outspoken developer, philanthropist and thought leader has been revealed as this year’s CityShaper—an honour reserved for an individual whose contributions have profoundly shaped the future of Australia’s cities.
The accolade will coincide with Abedian being awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at The Urban Developer Awards for Industry Excellence, recognising a career that has challenged industry orthodoxy and redefined the architectural ambition of Australian development.
As part of the Urbanity-25 program, Abedian will appear in a fireside chat alongside The Urban Developer chief executive Adam Di Marco, where the two will explore his legacy, philosophy and the future of city-making in an ever-changing world.
Abedian, who emigrated from Iran to Australia via Austria in the early 1980s, co-founded Sunland Group in 1983. The developer became known for projects that combined sculptural architecture with cultural and spiritual narratives, most notably Q1 Tower, once the tallest residential building in the world, and the opulent Palazzo Versace, the first fashion-branded hotel in Australia.
Abedian was appointed a Member in the General Division (AM) for significant service to the community and to the property development sector in 2021.
But it is his outspoken views on the role of property developers—and their moral responsibilities to society—that have defined his public life as much as his built work.
Throughout his career, Abedian has taken aim at what he sees as industry complacency and government inertia, calling for a more values-driven approach to urban development.
“Architecture must lift the human spirit,” he has said in past interviews. “If it does not serve people, it serves no one.”
Beyond bricks and mortar, Abedian has channelled his wealth into philanthropy, education and global dialogue.
He established the Abedian Foundation, supported the Abedian School of Architecture at Bond University, and sits on the Council of Advisors for the Global Peace and Prosperity Forum.
He has also funded initiatives in youth education, homelessness, and the arts and was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2016 for his services to the property sector and broader Gold Coast community.
Urbanity’s CityShaper series has previously honoured some of the nation’s most influential property and placemaking leaders, including Bob Hamilton (Mirvac), Lang Walker (WalkerCorp), Clement Lee (Riverlee) and Bert Dennis (Dennis Family Group).
According to Di Marco, this year’s recognition is about more than just a development portfolio—it’s about a philosophy.
“Soheil is, without question, one of the most thought-provoking and impactful figures our industry has seen,” he said.
“His work continues to inspire, agitate and elevate the conversation around what cities can—and should—be.”
The three-day conference returns to The Star Gold Coast from July 29–31, bringing together leading developers, designers, investors and policymakers to explore the future of the built environment in the Asia-Pacific.
