Dr Sean MacDermott is an Associate Professor and Director of the John Richards Centre for Rural Ageing Research at La Trobe University’s Rural Health School. His background is varied and includes post graduate qualifications in Management, Social Work, and Psychology. He has worked in both the private and public sectors in Ireland, the UK, and Australia. Prior to joining La Trobe University, he managed the national rollout of the Dementia Care in Hospitals Program. During the past two decades, Sean has made significant contributions to our understanding of the unique challenges faced by older adults living in rural communities where his work has focused on the intersection of social, economic, and environmental factors that impact the health and wellbeing of rural older adults. He has worked with over 50 health services in areas of program implementation and health service redesign. Research projects have included work in dementia, cognitive decline, intergenerational care, suicide, aged-care workforce, palliative care, end-of-life planning, and ageing in place. Dr MacDermott has also been involved in developing innovative solutions to address the challenges confronting older people especially those in rural areas. These include community-based approaches and the use of technology. This innovative approach extends to education where he maintains an active teaching load which includes the development of an age-specific subject on Working With Older People. This is designed to equip graduates with skills to work in the aged-care sector. As Director of the John Richards Centre, Dr MacDermott is at the forefront of La Trobe Rural Health School’s efforts to advance research, policy and practice in rural health and ageing. In this role, he works closely with researchers, policymakers, and community partners to advance the centre’s mission of promoting healthy ageing in rural communities.