Annette Sharp: A new beginning for ‘pink’ businessman Greg Fisher

Former ‘pink’ businessman Greg Fisher — who did a stint in jail — has started a new chapter in his life with his marriage to husband Hanniel “Billy” Mbatia, writes Annette Sharp.

Happy newlyweds Hanniel "Billy" Mbatia and Greg Fisher. Picture: Claudine Wakim/Captured by Claudine.

After building a $400 million “pink” business empire in the 1990s, being convicted of fraud and drug importation, and going to jail, one-time high-flying property developer Greg Fisher has started a new chapter in his life with his marriage to husband Hanniel “Billy” Mbatia.

The couple were married last week before a congregation that included Fisher’s former wife Michelle and their daughter Carly, a theatre director and producer.

Carly also served as celebrant at a joyous civil ceremony held at Sydney’s MCA.

Also in attendance were some of Fisher’s dearest friends and former boyfriends, including former rugby league player Ian Roberts, who gave a well-received speech, and hair stylist Joh Bailey.

The couple met “in the most romantic modern way — online” almost five years ago, Fisher told this column on Friday, speaking from Israel where he and Mbatia are now honeymooning. An introductory cup of tea at Fisher’s home swiftly led to love.

Greg Fisher and Hanniel ‘Billy’ Mbatia get married by Fisher’s daughter Carly Fisher, who served as marriage celebrant. Picture: Claudine Wakim/Captured by Claudine.

Fisher had been married to Michelle for five years, from 1990 to 1995.

He said Michelle knew he’d had male partners but, like him, was committed to a more traditional marriage.

“There were no secrets there,” Fisher previously said.

“I was determined to have a straight life, and I thought I could suppress it. Michelle thought I could suppress it.

“We discussed how much I wanted a traditional family life.

“I was committed to it and truly loved her.”

Fisher at his first wedding to ex-wife Michelle, who attended the recent nuptials. Picture: ABC

Kenyan-born Mbatia has lived in Australia for 21 years.

Having initially studied and acquired his nursing degree, he now works for Johnson & Johnson as a senior clinician in orthopaedics.

Meanwhile, during the past two decades, Fisher went from the top of Sydney society to the bottom.

His rise began in the 1990s when he and his British investor partner Jonathon Broster bought up hundreds of apartments with their new business, The Satellite Group, which later also established a gay media division.

In August 1999, just three years later, Satellite floated on the stock exchange in what was dubbed the world’s first “pink float”, an achievement made possible thanks to $25 million from gay and lesbian investors.

The couple with their pooch Schnookie …

… and Billy with flower girl Lexie Broadbent. Pictures: Claudine Wakim/Captured by Claudine.

But while Fisher was rubbing shoulders with glamorous A-listers, partying with Sydney’s gay identities and lapping up the attention that finds you when you’re a fixture in social columns, the float foundered.

Within six months, Fisher was under investigation from the corporate watchdog ASIC, his assets frozen, and his Porsche, Lexus, Saab, Dyna Craft yacht and Horizon apartment in the regulator’s sights.

Then in 2003 came his arrest for drug possession and, in 2005, for importing $200,000 of cocaine — a desperate act he said he was driven to in order to fund his own spiralling drug addiction.

Fisher eventually spent seven years and 10 months in jail for a string of offences, including defrauding Satellite of $220,000, which the court found Fisher had misappropriated to back fashion designer Alex Perry, who had no knowledge of that offending, at Sydney Fashion Week.

Following his release from jail in 2012, the rehabilitated Fisher threw himself into not-for-profit work, initially with Our Big Kitchen, a community-run kitchen that feeds the needy, and later with Thread Together, which redirects clothing destined to become landfill to charities and people living in poverty.

Then in 2016, he launched Fisher Consulting and Investment, which advises goodwill organisations (as well as his old boyfriend Bailey), before he founded Charity Champs Australia, in 2020, which aids vulnerable community groups.

Fisher and Mbatia, who were attended at their wedding by three bridesmaids in black — Debbie, Gomel and Sally Broadbent — and flower girl Lexie Broadbent as well as their pooch Schnookie managed to titillate guests with talk of future plans to extend their family.

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Originally published as Annette Sharp: A new beginning for ‘pink’ businessman Greg Fisher