Growing up in the small English village of South Newington, Carmen Guard has always been curious about the world. Her wanderlust pushed her to pursue new experiences in distant countries, from Lebanon to Canada, where she met her husband David. Their journey continued in Ethiopia, where Carmen Guard–with their firstborn baby in tow–dipped her toes into teaching a typing class to a cohort of 15 students, which mostly consisted of men. It was then that Carmen Guard found her passion for helping students.

Due to safety concerns, however, the couple left Ethiopia and returned to England, where Carmen Guard spent the next 13 years devoting herself to her four children. It wasn’t long before Carmen and David Guard were itching for a change of scenery. In 1974, they moved to Malaysia, and Carmen worked as the Social Secretary in the British High Commissioner’s office. During that time, she co-founded the Association of British Women in Malaysia as an avenue for community building and philanthropy work, values she brought to MABECS when she founded the company in 1985. In the thirty years that followed, Carmen Guard proved herself to be the backbone of the company, fearlessly leading the company to greater and greater heights while doing what she loved most: helping people.

David Guard’s journey in education and philanthropy began with a challenging start at school, where he was considered 'unteachable.' However, his potential flourished at his next school, leading him to St. Edward's School in Oxford and later to study Natural Sciences at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. 

After graduating, David Guard emigrated to Canada, where he met his wife, Carmen, and worked as an engineer. Their journey continued in Ethiopia, where David Guard discovered his passion for teaching while educating future science teachers.

Returning to the UK amidst political unrest, David Guard spent thirteen fulfilling years at Bloxham School as a physics teacher and housemaster, enriching the lives of students through sports and pastoral care. Seeking new challenges, David Guard moved to Malaysia in 1974, where he spent 25 years, first as an education advisor and then as Director of the Centre for British Teachers, significantly impacting the Malaysian education system. David's legacy lives on through MABECS, the company he founded, and the David Guard MABECS Scholarship, continuing his lifelong dedication to education and helping others.