Born Manickam Nadesalingam on 16th February 1946 in a small island village called Mandaitivu in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka, to father Ramalingam Manikam and mother Nagammah Manikam, Sir Mick Nades’ journey is one of vision, courage and lifelong service. Today, he is known to many as Sir Mick Nades, and his journey to Papua New Guinea has been defined by purpose, curiosity, hard work and humility, or as he writes in the preface of his autobiography, “a lifelong learning with a passion to make a difference in people’s lives in Papua New Guinea, the country I love.”
Sir Mick’s life has always been shaped by commitment and the determination to achieve. At just ten years of age, he was the only boy in his village who swam across the village reservoir, measuring approximately 200 metres long and 100 metres wide. At 20, together with his two cousins, he cleared five acres of virgin jungle to plant rice. Two years later, he united different parts of his village through sports and drama competitions—an early sign of the leadership that would later define his life.
The 80th birthday celebration of Sir Mick was a celebration of his life legacy; a lifetime dedicated to education and nation-building. Distinguished guests in attendance included:
• Grand Chief Sir Bob Dadae, Governor-General of Papua New Guinea
• Prime Minister Hon. James Marape
• DHERST Minister Hon. Kinoka Feo
• Renowned PNG athletes, community leaders, former and current IBS staff, and alumni
Both the Governor-General and the Prime Minister spoke warmly, highlighting Sir Mick’s contributions to education, business, sports and community development.
Governor-General Sir Bob Dadae acknowledged his immense contribution to education and the training of accountants in PNG.
Prime Minister James Marape paid tribute, stating:
“You could have chosen to progress elsewhere, but I want to say thank you for choosing PNG. Thank you for offering a life of service to us, because under your watch, many young Papua New Guineans have come through your ranks to become part of the human resources of Papua New Guinea. Thank you for giving 50-plus years of your productivity to PNG, and on behalf of every child today and every child in the future who will come through IBS, I want to thank you. God bless.”
DHERST Minister Hon. Kinoka Feo also shared his sentiments, noting that IBSUniversity has operated without government grants and has demonstrated that private universities and colleges can operate independently without heavily relying on government support.
“Today we are not simply celebrating a birthday; we celebrate a life of purpose. We celebrate a builder of minds. We celebrate a man who has overcome every obstacle. Eighty years of life — 50 of those given to PNG. You arrived on our shores in 1976 as a young man, and history will record you not as a visitor but as a nation builder. Where others saw limited access to education, you saw opportunity.”
With the support of a Sri Lankan Government scholarship, he completed his education from Grade 7 through to university, earning a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Ceylon. He later pursued professional accounting and marketing qualifications in the United Kingdom.
His aspirations led him to Australia, Canada and eventually Papua New Guinea. He gained experience across industries including trading, manufacturing, banking and mining. From 1982 to 1986, he worked at Ok Tedi Mining, first serving as Superintendent of Management Accounting and later being promoted to Financial Controller. On 12th October 1989, he officially became a citizen of Papua New Guinea, the nation he would go on to help build through education, business and service.
In 1986, he established Nades & Associates, an accounting firm that competed strongly alongside the four global accounting practices for a decade. His contribution significantly strengthened the accounting profession in PNG. The number of professionally qualified national accountants increased from just nine in 1986 to over 150 in 1996. Today, more than 2,000 national accountants have received CPA certification through IBSUniversity’s partnership with CPA PNG.
In 1989, Sir Mick founded the Institute of Business Studies, initially offering accounting revision classes at a time when Papua New Guinea had only a handful of certified accountants. Through perseverance and strong partnerships, the humble institute grew into IBSUniversity and IBS College, a respected private college and university offering programmes in accounting and finance, business, economics and information technology. Today, IBSUniversity & IBS College are recognized nationally for producing skilled professionals and business leaders.
He also founded and led the PNG Computer Society from 2005 to 2015, promoting technology awareness and digital literacy during a period of rapid global change.
Sir Mick was instrumental in establishing the partnership with Southern Cross University on 16th February 1999, enabling Australian degree programs in Accounting, Business, and Information Technology to be offered in Papua New Guinea through IBS. This partnership has remained active for over 26 years, continuing to expand opportunities for higher education in the country.
Travel became his lifelong companion. He explored more than 60 countries, collecting over 200 oil paintings along the way and cherishing the chance to reconnect with long lost friends and family members. In 2008, at the age of 62, Sir Mick completed the grueling 96-kilometre Kokoda Track, at 63 he attempted to summit Mt Wilhelm, PNG highest peak, and at 68 he attempted the slopes of Mt Fuji in Japan with his wife Jenny by his side. At 70, he spent two weeks in a forest monastery in Thailand, living with monks. At 73, accompanied by his wife, they trekked Annapurna base camp in Nepal.
At the heart of his story lies a deep commitment to service. Over the years, he became an active supporter of numerous humanitarian causes, including the PNG Red Cross, Port Moresby General Hospital, Operation Open Heart, the Red Shield Appeal, City Mission, Cheshire Home, and informal youth programs. Every organization he supported reminded him that true impact comes from helping others rise.
Sports became another avenue through which he gave back. His involvement in PNG’s cricket development contributed to the team’s rise to ODI status, and his two decades of service to the PNG Olympic Committee helped create pathways for athletes transitioning into education and employment, sponsoring athletes in the Life After Sports programme for over 20 years. After witnessing PNG’s athletes compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics, he became convinced that the nation’s first Olympic medal could come from Taekwondo. With that belief, he helped support two young athletes—Gibson Mara and Kevin Kassman—as they trained for the 2028 and 2032 Olympic Games.
His lifetime of service earned distinguished honors, including recognition from the Kingdom of Great Britain:
- OBE – Officer of the British Empire
- CBE – Commander of the British Empire
With successful completion of examinations and work experience, he was awarded:
- 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 Practicing Accountants
- FCPA (Papua New Guinea) – Fellow of the Certified Practicing Accountants
On 4th December 1994, he was appointed Honorary Consul for the Kingdom of Belgium in Papua New Guinea, a role he held for 29 years. In 2014 he was knighted for his service as Honorary Consul, and in 2024, he was honoured with the highest award from the Kingdom of Belgium—Officer in the Order of the Crown—recognizing his 29 years of diplomatic service of Belgium to PNG.
In 2022, the International Olympic Committee awarded him the Order of Merit Award—an honor he accepted with humility, knowing it reflected the collective efforts of many people who shared his vision.
Sir Mick is known as an ardent reader, reading approximately 20 books each year in subjects such as psychology, neuroscience, personal development, organisational development, human resource management and leadership.
Eighty years of life. Fifty years dedicated to Papua New Guinea. Thousands of graduates empowered. A profession strengthened. A university built. A college built. A centre of excellence built. A foundation for education built.
Now living in Thailand with his wife Jenny, he embraces a quieter life guided by IKIGAI, the Japanese philosophy of purpose and meaning. Each day, he reflects with gratitude on the countries he has travelled, the communities he has served, and the countless individuals who shaped his journey. His story is not defined by accolades, but by a consistent commitment to live with purpose, integrity, and a desire to make a difference wherever he stood.