In this interview, Ashley Farley, Senior Officer, Knowledge and Research Services at the Gates Foundation explores the evolving landscape of open access through the lens of funder policy, library practice, and global equity. Drawing on Ashley's experience at the Gates Foundation, it examines the motivations and principles behind open access policy, the challenges of implementation, and the role of initiatives such as Gates Open Research in rethinking scholarly publishing. The discussion also engages with critical issues including cost structures, prestige-driven systems, researcher incentives, and persistent inequalities between the Global North and Global South. Further, it reflects on how impact can be meaningfully assessed beyond traditional metrics, the shifting responsibilities of libraries, and the broader cultural and structural changes needed to advance a more equitable and sustainable open access ecosystem.

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Ashley Farley: For the past decade, Ashley has led the foundation’s Open Access Policy’s implementation and associated initiatives. She completed her Masters in Library and Information Sciences from the Information School of University of Washington. She has a deep passion for open access and strongly believes that freely accessible knowledge has the power to improve and save lives.

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