The ACCES Board of Directors is comprised of volunteer professionals with complementary skill sets varying from communication, finance, business, education and international development. The ACCES Foundation, a separate registered Canadian charity, acts as a charitable trust that provides funding and support to the ACCES Society.
Beth Rowles Scott Ed.D., M.Ed., B.A., B.Ed. – ACCES Founder, Society and Foundation Director

Co-Founder ACCES Society & ACCES Foundation
President of ACCES 1993- 2017
Director of ACCES Foundation 1994 to present
“Until one is committed there is hesitancy…… Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.” attributed to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Something to Do
In 1993, Beth and George Scott founded ACCES. Both retired they searched for “something to do” which would have meaning and purpose. Beth recalls that the genesis of ACCES was inspired by reading the book “Save Three Lives “by Robert Rodale. Rodale spoke about poverty and long-term development–giving people the means to provide for themselves. In their search, Beth and George discovered the Canadian Harambee Education Society (CHES), which sponsors Kenyan youth through their secondary school years. But when these bright and very poor students graduated from secondary school they could not obtain employment without further training. They had nowhere to go except back to their shamba (small land holding). Here was a project ready for the making: to provide scholarships for post-secondary students to obtain further education and training to help them become employable. ACCES was created.
Someone to Love
Beth’s memoir “Pinch Me” chronicles her story, her accomplishments and achievements into three major parts: living and leaving her Prairie roots; teaching and leading a long and illustrious career in education spanning from first grade to school district leadership; and then finally, falling in love with George Scott, her olwanda (rock) and journaling what they did to create their life’s work together—the ACCES love story intertwined with Beth’s recipe for happiness.
Something to Look Forward To
In 1999 Beth received the Lewis Perinbam Award for International Development which is given “in recognition of excellence and imaginative leadership in the field of international development. “Her name is listed among the giants in International Development.
Under Beth’s capable and steady leadership ACCES, both the Society and the Foundation, have grown into vital international development organizations that have remained true to core ideals “to help young Africans obtain the skills and education needed to benefit themselves and their society”. Some recipients of ACCES scholarships have become top professionals in their respective fields, which include the fields of law, medicine, commerce and engineering. Supporters of ACCES look forward as these scholars help shape the future of Kenya. Today the Kenyans refer to Beth as Nuru–their light.
“George and I have often been praised for our work as the founders of ACCES. We always reply that we are the ones who have received the greatest rewards. That is not modesty: it is the truth. ACCES has given us “Something to Do” that has purpose and that purpose brings us joy” – Beth Rowles Scott, Pinch Me. page 206.
Kevin Fadum, M.A., B.A., CPHR – Executive Director since 2021

ACCES Executive Director since 2021
ACCES Foundation Director since 2023
Kevin is driven to constantly learn new things and experience as much in life as possible. He spent over twenty years in the education sector without staying in the same position for more than four years. He enjoyed his time as a teacher, principal, District Principal of Human Resources and Director of Member Support with a provincial association before establishing a consulting business (Formative Solutions Inc) that provides Human Resources support to clients.
Kevin became consumed with stories and events of post colonial Africa in university where he focused on African History. Those that know him personally have heard about his dream to one day make a difference in the lives of people in sub saharan Africa. With this in mind he is very excited to support the ACCES mission in Kenya by working with staff and stakeholders to continue the legacy that Beth and George Scott started. Kevin feels honoured and privileged to contribute and appreciates every opportunity to hear directly from current and former scholarship recipients, donors and interested community members.
“Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel” – Socrates
Maureen MacDonald B.Ed., M.Ed. – ACCES Society, Director, ACCES Foundation, Director

ACCES Board member since 2005
ACCES Foundation Board member since 2023
Maureen holds a long view and a deep commitment to the ACCES belief of helping others to help themselves. In the early years of ACCES, she supported Beth and George Scott’s vision with scholarship donations. In 2004 she lived on site in Kakamega for six months and served as one of the last volunteer agents before the board hired an executive director.
In 2008, with the generous support of the Canadian International Development Agency, Maureen co-authored Kenya: Our Global Friend. A curriculum used in many BC classrooms to inspire students and teachers to think and act globally. Maureen returned to Kenya in 2011 to create video stories of alumni students. At that time Moses Akali, who today is a member of the alumni executive said, “ACCES is my mother. If you’re an orphan and ACCES comes into your life, you are no longer alone.”
In addition to serving as a member of the Board of Directors since 2005, Maureen has fulfilled various executive positions at ACCES including two years as president. Her values are closely aligned with those of the society.
Her career in public schools extended from teacher to assistant superintendent and even international assignments as a teacher trainer. Maureen continues to work enthusiastically with other directors and Kenyan partners to reach the Board’s ultimate goal of Kenyanization.
Gwen Murray B.Ed. – ACCES Foundation, Director – Founding member

ACCES Board (founding member) – Secretary – from 1993 – 2010
ACCES Foundation Board member (Secretary) since 2010
Gwen has spent 39 years as an educator in both elementary and secondary schools, including four years as a classroom teacher in New Zealand and Australia. She was the Music Helping Teacher for Surrey prior to her 1993 retirement.
For twenty years after retirement, Gwen developed and oversaw the Career Preparation/Work Experience program offered by Vancouver Opera to Grade 11-12 Arts students. Gwen is currently the Awards Chair of the Vancouver Opera Guild where she administers their Career Development Grant, a national competition offered to promising young opera singers from across Canada.
Gwen grew up in New Zealand with her family where education was considered to be of the utmost importance. Her parents often quoted the Tibetan proverb: “A child without education is like a bird without wings.” Her father, a farmer, was involved in agricultural research (livestock) while her mother was a Notary Public. All members of her family were strongly encouraged to pursue purposeful, worthwhile careers. This type of opportunity and encouragement is available to few Kenyans due to wide-spread impoverishment and lack of resources. ACCES’s mission is to make education, especially post-secondary education, available to as many students in Kenya as possible.
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela
Elisa Carlson, Ed. D. – ACCES Society, Director

ACCES Board Member since 2021
Elisa believes in the power of education to transform lives, families, and communities. She is keen to support ACCES in its work to make a difference in the lives of Kenyan students. Elisa is currently the Executive Director of The Cmolik Foundation. She was also the former Director of Instruction (Curriculum & Innovation) with the Surrey School District and worked in public education for over twenty-five years. She has a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and has taught at the graduate level for several different universities.
She lives in Langley, British Columbia with her husband, and they are parents of four now grown young men.
Mo MacKendrick, M.Ed., B.P.E. – ACCES Foundation, Director

ACCES Foundation Board Member since 1993, (President until 2014)
Mo began her teaching career in Australia and after extensive travels through Asia and Europe, returned to Canada. She believes in the empowerment of children and youth through education.
During her 33 year career as a teacher, consultant and school administrator she was provided numerous opportunities to contribute to the education community in Canada and internationally. Beth Scott became her mentor and coach instilling the confidence in her leadership skills and encouraging her to seek broader opportunities. She has served as President of the Canadian Association of Health, Physical Education and Dance.
Soon after ACCES was co-founded by Beth and George Scott, the Foundation was established. It began in 1993 with the purpose of providing long term funding for the Society. It has always been a small group who share core values and a passion for alleviating poverty through education that continue to enhance the work of ACCES.
“A quality education has the power to transform societies in a single generation, provide children with the protection they need from the hazards of poverty, labour exploitation and disease, and give them the knowledge, skills, and confidence to reach their full potential.” – Audrey Hepburn
Donna VanSant Ed.D., M.Sc., B.P.E. – President, ACCES Foundation

President ACCES Foundation 2016 – Present
President ACCES Society 2012 – 2015
“Leadership for me is actively and consciously influencing others to act and focus on our shared purpose with a bias toward the long view. It is the opportunity to be myself and to be in relationship with others in service for a higher purpose.” – Donna VanSant
Donna is a distinguished educator, facilitator, coach, teacher and writer. She is well known for her penchant for innovation and “start ups.” From the position of teacher and leader in the Surrey School District, she has nurtured the onset of Dance in High School, the District Research and Evaluation Department, Vision 36/20, Making Tomorrow Work, and The Surrey Wellness Committee. After and early retirement, Donna operated her own Company, Healthy Ventures, focusing on positive youth development and organizational health issues in the work place. Currently she is an Associate Faculty at Royal Roads University and President of the African Canadian Continuing Education Foundation (ACCES.) Donna believes the most important gift she can give is education. She has served ACCES operations since it’s inception and for her, ACCES is family.
Donna is particularly proud that ACCES Scholars Education Foundation (ASEF) are now aware of the need to help others as they wereonce helped. Instead of asking, “what do I do?” they now collectively query, “what is life asking of us?” This new way of seeing the world will have profound impact as they support the ACCES vision of alleviating poverty through education.
“As we live more deeply into selfhood that is our birthright gift, we find not only personal fulfillment. We find communion with others and ways of serving the world’s deepest needs.” – Parker Palmer, Let Your Life Speak
Sharon Cohen, Ed.D., M.A., B.Mus. – ACCES Society, President

ACCES Board Member since 2016
ACCES President, 2021 to present
Sharon believes that education is a golden key that opens doors that would otherwise remain closed. She has over 40 years of experience with all levels of education from kindergarten to post-secondary and has worked as a classroom teacher, principal, and district leader. Prior to her retirement in 2013, Sharon was the Deputy Superintendent of the Surrey School District. Sharon was hired to be a Surrey teacher decades ago by Beth Scott, co-founder of ACCES. Over 30 years later, Beth attended Sharon’s retirement event and because of this, Sharon considers Beth to be the ‘bookends’ of her career. She is currently an Adjunct Professor at Simon Fraser University in the M.Ed. Educational Leadership Program.
Neither of Sharon’s parents graduated secondary school. The limited opportunities that they experienced, as well as their encouragement to pursue a comprehensive education, have made all the difference in a single generation. That is the power of education.
In Canada, Sharon had the opportunity to pursue this education. In Kenya, poverty is so pervasive that very few students, regardless of ability, have the resources necessary to attend university or college. The mission of ACCES is to give a growing number of them this same opportunity.
“It is not beyond our power to create a world in which all children have access to a good education. Those who do not believe this have small imaginations.” – Nelson Mandela
Tobin Postma, MBA in Corporate Social Responsibility, BA Applied Science in Communications

ACCES board member since 2014, ACCES President (2015-2021)
In 2004-2005, Tobin moved from British Columbia Canada to Kakamega, Kenya to support the work of ACCES as it piloted a microfinance program for scholarship recipients who wished to launch their own businesses – it was a life changing experience. Witnessing Kenyanization in action gave Tobin a deep appreciation for the power of education and the exponential impact it can have on a family, a community and a country.
Following his time in Kenya, Tobin moved to the UK for seven years where he worked for a large steel and mining company, launching a corporate responsibility (CR) strategy as well as developing global community engagement and CR reporting standards for the company’s industrial operations in over 30 countries.
Upon moving back to Vancouver, Canada in 2014 Tobin was invited by Beth and George Scott to join the ACCES Board. While in Vancouver, Tobin worked for the City of Vancouver most recently as the Director of Intergovernmental Relations, working with other levels of government on issues related to transportation, affordable housing, opioid crisis, Reconciliation, climate emergency and COVID-19 response and recovery efforts.
“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.“ -Benjamin Franklin
Moses Akali – PhD, MSc B.Ed (Sc)

ACCES Director since 2024
Born in Mwiyenga Village, Kakamega County, Kenya, Moses Akali’s journey exemplifies resilience and determination. Growing up in a large, polygamous family, Moses faced significant financial challenges, particularly in securing his education. Despite academic excellence, paying for primary and secondary schooling was a constant struggle. His relentless pursuit of education bore fruit when he secured a sponsorship from the ACCES program, enabling him to attend Moi University and graduate in 2003. After earning his degree, Moses began his career as a high school teacher while continuing his education. He obtained a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in 2016.
His career flourished as he joined the university as an assistant lecturer, progressing to roles such as campus director and, eventually, director in the national government’s Directorate of Resource Surveys and Remote Sensing (DRSRS). Grateful for the opportunities he received, Moses is dedicated to ensuring underprivileged young Kenyans have access to education. He views education as a transformative force and actively works to fund educational opportunities for others.
Moses serves on the ACCES Society Board of Directors, able to attend regular online meetings, chairperson of the Kenyan Advisory Committee, and he provides leadership for the newly established Kenyan-based ACCES Scholars Foundation in Kenya, aiming to uplift and empower the next generation through education.
Judy Henriques
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Pat Horstead
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John Keenlyside – BA

ACCES Board Member since 1997
John is a strong proponent of education as a critical tool for reducing poverty and improving the overall standard of living in the world. Having known George Scott for over 60 years, John admired the amazing foresight and energy of George and Beth to establish this outreach by ACCES in Kenya that has provided an exciting opportunity for so many young people as well as significant long-term benefits to their home communities.
John has established important research collections at UBC, SFU and U of A involving early B.C. legal history, Doukhobor history in Canada and development of the early Fur Trade. He has also established and endowed a permanent scholarship in library sciences at University of Alberta.
John continues to work with his two sons in the investment management business he founded in 1973 and has enjoyed working with the Foundation’s investment portfolio.
“Time is short to gladden the hearts of those who make the journey with us. So be swift to love and make haste to be kind.” – Henri Amiel (1821-1881)