Know Your Founder

KNOW YOUR
FOUNDER

Sir Mick Nades (Manickam Nadesalingam)

A LIFE OF SERVICE, LEARNING, AND VISION
Born in early 1946 in Sri Lanka, my name is Manickam Nadesalingam though many know me as Sir Mick Nades. A Sri Lankan government scholarship supported my education from Grade 7 to
university, where I earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Ceylon. I later pursued professional accounting and marketing qualifications from the United Kingdom

WITH THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF EXAMINATIONS AND WORK EXPERIENCE, I WAS AWARDED THE FOLLOWING FELLOWSHIPS:

FCMA (UK) – Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants
FCIM (UK) – Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing
FCPA (Australia) – Fellow of the Certified Practising Accountants
FCPA (Papua New Guinea) – Fellow of the Certified Practising Accountants

My aspirations took me to Australia, Canada, and eventually Papua New Guinea. I worked across different industries like trading, manufacturing, banking, and mining. In every role, I always gave my best and beyond what was expected of me.

In my last job, I served as the Financial Controller of OK Tedi Mining from 1982 to 1986, one of Papua New Guinea’s leading and biggest gold and copper mines in the world at the time.

EARLY YEARS IN SRI LANKA

A LIFE OF SERVICE, LEARNING, AND VISION Born in early 1946 in Sri Lanka, my name is Manickam Nadesalingam though many know me as Sir Mick Nades. A Sri Lankan government scholarship supported my education from Grade 7 to university, where I earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Ceylon. I later pursued professional accounting and marketing qualifications from the United Kingdom

ADVENTURE IN
LATER YEARS

At 62,

I walked the full 96-kilometre Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea in six days (2008).

At 63,

I attempted to summit Mt Wilhelm, PNG’s highest peak at 4,500 metres, but had to stop at 3,700 metres due to poor eyesight.

At 68,

I attempted Mt Fuji, the highest mountain in Japan at 3776 metres above sea level, with my wife Jenny by my side but had to turn back halfway because of acute mountain sickness.

At 70,

I spent two weeks in a forest monastery in Thailand, living with Buddhist monks.

At 73,

My wife and I began a trek to Annapurna Base Camp in Nepal. We made it to 3,700 metres but had to return because she suffered frostbite. We were just 400 metres from our goal, but I chose to stay back and take care of her.

“Each experience pushed me both physically and mentally,
but it also gave me time to think about life, people, and what really matters.”

CONTRIBUTION TO SPORTS IN PNG

Sport has never been just about winning – it’s a way to bring people together and open doors.
At college and university, I was champion in athletics and drama IBS sponsored the PNG Olympic Committee for over 20 years, to support our athletes in international competitions. Together we launched the “Life After Sports” program at both IBS College of TVET and IBSUniversity, giving former international athletes a chance to return to education and employment.
In 2022, I was quietly honoured to be the second person after Sir Henry To Robert to receive the Order of Merit Award from the International Olympic Committee, through PNG Olympic committee.
As Chairman of Cricket PNG from 2006 to 2016, we worked hard to raise the sport’s global ranking, which led to PNG earning One Day International (ODI) status in 2014

SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEUR

Pioneering Possibilities with Purpose and Passion

In 1986, I started my accounting firm, Nades and Associates, which ran competitively with the four global accounting practices for ten years. The practice was all about meeting client needs and helping local businesses grow. This was where my entrepreneurial side became obvious, built on trust, hard work, and getting things done.

SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEUR

Pioneering Possibilities with Purpose and Passion

CONTRIBUTION TO THE ACCOUNTING PROFESSION IN PNG

A proud achievement in my career was contributing to the growth of the accounting profession in Papua New Guinea. From 1987 to 1996, Nades & Associates offered revision classes for CPA exams, helping aspiring accounting graduates gain CPA qualifications. This increased the number of professionally qualified national accountants from just 9 to over 150.
Today, over 2,000 national accountants have received CPA certification through IBSUniversity’s partnership with CPA PNG.

“Serving My Purpose of Being (IKIGAI) Since I Turned Fifty Years”

HIGHER EDUCATION

Our partnership with Southern Cross University of Australia began in 1999. Through this partnership, we began offering bachelor’s degree programmes in Accounting, Business, and Information Technology. In April 2024, we celebrated our silver jubilee partnership.
Building on that foundation, IBSUniversity has been offering its own bachelor’s degree programmes in Accounting, Business, Economics and Development, and Information Technology since 2017. IBS College of TVET, on the other hand, was created to offer pathways for Grade 10 school leavers to become degree holders with either SCU or IBSU programmes.
To further support access to education, the Nadesalingam Foundation for Education Limited has been providing scholarships to students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds, giving them a fair chance to succeed.

HIGHER EDUCATION

DIPLOMATIC APPOINTMENT

In 1994, I was appointed Honorary Consul for the Kingdom of Belgium in Papua New Guinea, a role I held for 29 years. Through this diplomatic position, I helped build relationships between PNG and Belgium.
In 2014, I was knighted for my 20 years of service as Honorary Consul. When I retired in 2024, I was honoured with the highest award from the Kingdom of Belgium—Officer in the Order of the Crown—recognising 29 years of diplomatic service.