Chris Garforth is Professor of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development at the University of Reading where his main research expertise is in the analysis of agricultural information and innovation systems, and of farmers demand for and response to information and knowledge. Chris has 35 years experience of research, training, and policy advice in rural contexts in a wide range of countries in Africa and Asia. His high level of drafting and synthesis skills have been demonstrated in both research and consultancy assignments, and in the provision of policy advice. He has managed and coordinated several multi-partner, multi-location research projects. His research, including fieldwork with PhD students, has given him a good level of awareness of issues in the key commodity sectors, ranging from tree crops, to grain staples and livestock. His skills include management of research projects, workshop facilitation and reporting, development of communication strategies, monitoring and evaluation, stakeholder analysis, capacity building, and writing concise reports for different audiences. His most recent project experience includes delivering training in consultancy skills for staff of two large development programmes in Nigeria, developing a communication strategy for addressing iodine deficiency disorders in Tanzania, and researching farmers perceptions of climate and farming system changes in China. His experience ranges across a number of different donor groups including World Bank, FAO, DFID, SIDA, DANIDA, and GTZ. He is currently (2010 - 2013) co-ordinating an EU consortium to develop formal and non-formal professional education for rural extension in the Western Balkans.