KPMG partner David Ibels’ posts before death

A highly successful KPMG partner, whose body was found in a national park, had recently commented on a friend’s post to congratulate her.

Recent social media posts of a highly successful KPMG partner, whose body was tragically found in a national park this week, how he celebrated a major achievement at the consultancy firm.

David Ibels, 43, was last seen near the Mount Tamborine area, south of Brisbane, in the early hours of Saturday morning.

He was a partner at a ‘Big Four’ consultancy firm, was married to a barrister wife Anastasia Nicholas, and the couple had a young daughter.

The family lived in New Farm, in Brisbane’s inner suburbs, in a house worth reportedly $3.6 million dollars.

David Ibels. Picture: Queensland Police

On Wednesday last week, Mr Ibels commented on a friend’s LinkedIn post to congratulate her on landing a new job.

“Congratulations, Maddy! Fantastic role and opportunity. Enjoy and best wishes,” he wrote.

Mr Ibels was a key figure in the development of KPMG Australia’s $800 million Brisbane headquarters at Heritage Lanes.

The building, developed by property giant Mirvac, is powered by renewable electricity and has net-zero carbon emissions.

Just one month ago, Mr Ibels was promoting the plush new office on LinkedIn.

“Roll out the blue carpet … several years of hard work culminated in the opening of KPMG Australia’s new Brisbane HQ at Heritage Lanes this week,” he wrote.

His body was found shortly after his car was discovered.

“This is a brilliant workplace with exceptional amenities for our staff and clients to connect, collaborate, grow and make a significant impact.”

He noted some of the highlights include “working with many talented teams”, “feeling the energy in this space”, “the value of proximity bias” and “Our Brisbane Consulting team co-located on the one floor”.

Friends and colleagues were quick to congratulate him on the achievement.

One wrote, “Looks great Dibs”.

“Congratulations to you and the team - I know you played a key role in driving in the outcome,” another wrote.

Unfolding tragedy

Mr Ibels was last in contact with a family member at 4.45am on Saturday.

Police conducted a search of Springbrook National Park on Monday in the vicinity of where his black Porsche Cayenne station wagon was found.

A Porsche Cayenne station wagon was found in the area. Picture: Queensland Police

His body was found by police at around 2pm in the same area.

During the search, police also found a second body, believed to be a 75-year-old man who was reported missing from Thornlands on July 31.

The deaths are not connected and are not being treated as suspicious, police said.

Police will prepare reports for the coroner.

KPMG Australia chief executive Andrew Yates said the news of Mr Ibels’ death was “hard to accept” and an “incredibly sad day”.

“David was an incredible person, a great partner, and so focused on our people,” he said.

“He was an extraordinary individual – making this news so hard to accept.

“It’s an incredibly sad day, losing a great partner, and friend.

“All our thoughts are with David’s family. His loss will be felt by many, not only within our firm but more broadly with our clients and the Queensland community.”

Concerned friends of Mr Ibels appealed for help in the local Tamborine Community Facebook group earlier this week.

“A very good friend and colleague has gone missing in the Mt Tamborine area. We are very concerned about his welfare and would like your help in locating him,” one wrote.

“This has been reported to the local police but we would like the help of your community to find him.

“His wife and young daughter are very concerned and would like to speak to him.”

In a statement shared through Queensland Police on Sunday morning, Mr Ibels’ family said they were “concerned for his welfare as his behaviour is out of character”.

-with Jessica Wang and Madeleine Achenza, NCA Newswire

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