While 'broker' appears in academic development literature, the broker role is underexplored in it relative to other disciplines and its potential significance for academic developers (ADs). Synthesizing management and academic development literature, this conceptual article explains how ADs can foster trust as brokers. It delineates the broker role as articulated in management research and explains how ADs' work is consistent with this conceptualization of the broker role. It elaborates on the conceptual and empirical basis of brokers' ability to cultivate trust; articulates implications of the broker role for ADs' practice in terms of important techniques, opportunities, and risks involved; and identifies areas for further research.