Where It All Began
Although the story officially begins in London, its roots go back to Singapore, where our founder, Professor Selva Abraham, started his career.
Selva's journey took a defining turn when he enrolled in the MBA program at Henley Business School in the UK. Unlike traditional degrees, Henley's MBA was work-based and deeply hands-on — something that immediately resonated with him. He'd spend seven weeks immersed in classes in London, then fly back to Singapore for fourteen weeks to apply what he'd learned directly in the workplace.
He found the program so thrilling and relevant that he powered through the 24-month course in just 18 months. For Selva, it wasn't just an MBA — it was a life-changing experience. He often credits it as the single most influential experience in shaping both his career and his worldview.
A Global Vision
Post the completion of his MBA, Selva was invited to a dinner with the Principal of Henley Business School. Over the course of their conversation, Selva shared a bold idea: bringing Henley's transformative MBA program to Singapore. The Principal was intrigued, and that conversation would go on to spark something big.
Selva successfully introduced the Henley MBA to both Singapore and Malaysia, helping expand its global reach. At the same time, he co-founded the Marketing Institute of Singapore, becoming one of its original ten founders.
Faced with opportunities to work in the UK and Canada, it was something less expected that captured his heart — his fond memories of flying with Qantas, the airline marked with the iconic kangaroo. That spark of inspiration led Selva and his wife, Param, to choose Australia for their next adventure.
Building Gibaran
On the 22nd of November 1984, Selva and Param touched down in Perth with their two young sons, Sanjay and Joel. While Selva planned to continue his work as a management consultant and Param brought her experience as a corporate lawyer, they wasted no time turning ambition into action.
Within just four days of arriving, they launched their new venture — Gibaran Pty. Ltd., a management consultancy that would lay the foundation for everything to come.
The name Gibaran didn't come from some grand moment of inspiration. It was simply one of the off-the-shelf companies established by their accounting firm, Gibson & Gibson. But Selva and Param had long admired the work of Lebanese-American writer and poet Kahlil Gibran. The resemblance in the name felt like more than a coincidence — it felt like a sign. And so, Gibaran stuck.
In 1988, Selva and Param relocated to Adelaide where Selva continued to build up Gibaran by delivering management development programmes to a variety of clients.
The Accreditation Journey
Breaking new ground in Australian higher education
In 1995, the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) came into effect to provide a nationally consistent framework for qualifications. Selva's clients from his management courses were seeking a pathway to further education.
Having maintained contact with Mount Eliza Business School in Melbourne, Selva approached them with a proposal — and the Gibaran Executive Development Program was officially recognised as equivalent to a Graduate Certificate in Management.
When Mount Eliza was acquired by a university and the arrangement was abruptly discontinued, Selva and Param decided it was time to take control and pursue accreditation for their own programs.
Accreditations Achieved (1995–2002)
- November 1995 — Graduate Diploma in Work-based Management Learning
- June 1996 — Diploma & Advanced Diploma of Management, Graduate Certificate in Training (Action Learning)
- August 1996 — Master of Management (Research)
- February 1997 — Graduate Certificate in Management
- July 1997 — MBA and PhD
- January 1999 — Bachelor of Business Administration
- January 2002 — Doctor of Business Administration
Gaining accreditation for the PhD was a challenging journey — no private provider had ever achieved it before. Despite ideologically driven opposition, Gibaran became the first private higher education provider in Australia to offer the full suite of accredited business degrees from Bachelor to Doctorate level.
Global Expansion
Between 2002 and 2005, Gibaran added three new higher education providers — the Entrepreneurship Institute of Australia, Tourism Institute of Australia, and the Australian Institute of Business Administration. Together with Gibaran, they became known as the Gibaran Learning Group.
Each provider offered different courses, and the Group expanded its footprint globally by entering into arrangements with overseas Teaching Centres to deliver courses in more than 14 countries.
Countries Served
Prof Selva Abraham at a Gibaran graduation
The early Gibaran team
Gibaran — Monash Graduation
The Birth of AIB
In 2011, the Gibaran Learning Group evolved once more. Recognising the need for a unified identity that reflected both the maturity of the institution and its global reach, the group consolidated its various education entities under a single banner: The Australian Institute of Business (AIB).
Today, AIB stands as Australia's largest online MBA provider, committed to delivering practical learning to everyday working adults. Its impact has been carried forward, inspiring a global community of over 20,000 students and alumni from 100 countries, and over 180 staff — each continuing to write their own chapter in the AIB story.
Key Milestones
Four decades of achievement, innovation, and growth
Gibaran Founded
Selva and Param Abraham incorporate Gibaran Pty. Ltd. in Perth — a management consultancy that would lay the foundation for everything to come.
Relocated to Adelaide
The family and business move to Adelaide, South Australia, where Gibaran continues to grow.
First Higher Education Accreditation
Gibaran is accredited as a higher education provider, beginning a remarkable period of academic achievement.
MBA & PhD Accredited
Gibaran breaks new ground as the first private provider in Australia to achieve PhD accreditation.
First MBA Graduate
Roger Ottoway becomes the first graduate of the Gibaran MBA program.
Full Suite Achieved
DBA accredited — Gibaran becomes the first private provider with the complete suite of business degrees from Bachelor to Doctorate.
Going International
First DBA graduate (Ron Flavel) and first international student enrolled through a teaching centre.
Rebranded as AIB
The Gibaran Learning Group consolidates under the Australian Institute of Business brand, with the full suite re-accredited.
Global Recognition
Ranked 5th globally and 1st nationally in CEO Magazine's Online MBA Rankings.
Australia's Largest Online MBA
AIB becomes Australia's largest online MBA provider with 3,216 enrolments.
Maximum Re-accreditation
AIB's full suite of business degrees is accredited for the maximum period of 7 years.
Tier One Global Status
AIB reaffirms Tier One status, ranking in the global top 25 and Australia's top 5 in CEO Magazine's Online MBA Rankings.
The Practical Business School
Gibaran's learning material was firmly rooted in Selva Abraham's pioneering research and commitment to Work-Applied Learning. This approach, which integrates Action Research and Action Learning (ARAL), was central to Gibaran's early success.
As the first person in Australia to earn a PhD in Action Research, Selva championed a philosophy of learning through real-world work tasks — an approach designed not only to support individual and team learning, but also to drive organisational change.
His methodology is deeply experiential, built on cycles of inquiry, reflection, and purposeful action. Students are encouraged to apply insights between sessions, returning to their workplaces to integrate knowledge through application, supported by skilled facilitators with industry expertise.
(Fused Action Research, Action Learning & Reflective Practice)
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