Bill Ashton is past treasurer of the Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation and a long-standing member. He co-developed and led a multi-million dollar seven-year research project pursuing an international Rural Policy Learning Commons. He engaged over 30 universities from countries on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, involving 100 faculty and 100s of university students in policy related research. His contributions to the International Comparative Rural Policy Studies added value to research findings as evidence to inform public policy. He is a sought-after advisor for provincial and federal policy initiatives involving pressing and persistent challenges in rural and northern areas. For over a dozen years as director of Brandon University’s Rural Development Institute, he applied social science research in exploring and defining forward-looking actions. He sees knowledge mobilization and sharing results as core activities to his research efforts. His interests are broad and varied reflecting the diversity and complexity of rural people and places.