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Staff Profile

Professor Sally Shortall

Duke of Northumberland Professor of Rural Economy

  • Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 6882
  • Address: Room 3.16
    School of Natural and Environmental Sciences
    Agriculture Building
    Newcastle University
    Newcastle upon Tyne
    NE1 7RU
Background

Sally Shortall is interested in agriculture, gender, rural development and how knowledge is socially constructed. She has researched farm families and how their values and decisions shape agricultural practice. She is particularly known for her work on the role of women in farm families. Shortall’s research provides evidence that women lead on green and sustainable agriculture, because they are new to agriculture and not constrained by cultural norms. . To date her research has focused on Europe, Canada, Australia, and Africa. She has published extensively on this and other topics.


She has been commissioned by international organisations to undertake work on gender and agriculture. This includes the European Parliament, the European Commission, the European Court of Auditors, the FAO and the Australian Government. She has been commissioned to do research on rural development by the OECD and the European Commission, and on protected food name status by the European Commission. Sally works closely with colleagues from Cornell University and Penn State and actively publishes on trans-Atlantic comparisons.


Sally Shortall’s leadership in gender and agriculture research is evident in the many research commissions awarded. She led research commissioned by the Scottish Government on women in farming and the agriculture sector (2016). Following this a Task Force was established by the First Minister to advice how best to implement the findings. This resulted in 300K per annum in the Programme for Government to measures to reduce inequality in agriculture. In 2020, she was commissioned by the European Court of Auditors to write a report on gender mainstreaming the European Agricultural Guidance Fund. In 2021 she led research for the English Government on women entrepreneurs in farm businesses and their role in green agriculture. Sally was commissioned by the European Environmental Bureau to write a report on women as sustainable food producers. In 2023, she won a 3 million euro Horizon Europe project on ecological transitions and women (GRASS CEILING) She is also a project partner on a Horizon Europe project focusing on farm safety (5 million euro).


Sally Shortall’s expertise and profile are recognised globally. She was twice elected President of the European Society for Rural Sociology (2015-17; 2017-19). She was elected First Vice-President of the International Rural Sociology Association (2016-2022) and was elected President in 2022. She was elected an International Fellow of the Royal Academic of Swedish Agriculture in 2022 for international services to agriculture. Sally regularly reviews for research councils in European countries, for the European Commission, and she has reviewed tenure track applications for Cornell University in the US.


Sally is very committed to knowledge exchange and research impact. She sits and has sat on many research and advisory boards. Sally established the Knowledge Exchange Seminar Series (KESS) for Northern Ireland increasing the flow of academic knowledge into the devolved government in accessible non-jargon English: http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/assembly-business/research-and-information-service-raise/knowledge-exchange/


She was elected a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in 2021. Sally holds Visiting Professorships in Queen's University Belfast, University College Dublin, and has a 30% appointment in the Technology University of the Southeast of Ireland. She is an Irish citizen.


Qualifications:

  • PhD, Sociology, National University of Ireland, 1990.
  • Graduateship of the Institute of Statistics. Dublin Institute of Technology, Ireland 1989.
  • M. Social Science, University College Cork, National University of Ireland 1988 (upgraded to PhD).
  • B. Social Sciences, University College Cork, National University of Ireland. 1985.

 

Previous positions held:

  • Head of School, School of Sociology, Queen’s University Belfast, 2015-16
  • Professor, School of Sociology, Queen’s University Belfast, 2012-2016
  • Reader, School of Sociology, Queen’s University Belfast, 1998-2012
  • ESRC Knowledge Transfer Fellow, DARD, 2008-2009
  • Director, Gibson Institute for Land, Food and Environment, Queen’s University Belfast 2004-2006
  • Lecturer, School of Sociology, Queen’s University Belfast, 1993-1998
  • Social Policy Analyst, National Economic and Social Council, Dublin, 1992-1993
  • Postdoctoral Fellow/ lecturer, McGill University, Canada, 1990-1992
  • Research Assistant, Economic and Social Research Institute, Dublin, 1988-1990

 

Other recent appointments:

  •  Elected President of the International Rural Sociology Association, 2022-
  •  Elected to the Royal Swedish Academy of Forestry and Agriculture 2022
  • Appointed Chair of the Future of Farming Enquiry, Northumberland, 2022
  • Appointed to the Board of the Agri Food and Biosciences Institute, UK, 2021
  • Contracted to advise the European Court of Auditors on EU gender mainstreaming policies 2020.
  • Appointed one of eight rural commissioners for Yorkshire, to hear evidence of rural exclusion and disadvantage, and write report after twelve days of hearing evidence, 2019-2021.
  • Elected First Vice-President of the International Rural Sociology Association, 2016-2022.
  • Elected President of the European Society for Rural Sociology. 2015-2017; 2017-2019.
  • Elected to the Economic & Social Research Institute Council, Dublin, June 2015-2021
  • Ministerial appointment to The Scottish Government Women in Agriculture Task Force to implement the findings of the research on women in agriculture 2017
  • Awarded the University of Monash, Melbourne, Faculty of Medicine Granger & Cottman Endowment Fund. To do research on rural proofing and provide briefing papers for the Department of Primary Industries, Australia. 2015 



Research

Selected recent Research Grants:


  • Shortall, S. 2025 Developing the Rural Champion. DAERA, Northern Ireland £12K
  • Shortall, S. 2024-2025. Appointed OECD consultant on the review of the Irish Rural Development Policy 
  • Shortall, S. 2023 (PI) GRASS CEILING. Horizon Europe. 3 million Euro
  • Shortall, S. 2023 (Co-1) SafeHabitus. Horizon Europe. 5 million Euro (278,000 Euro portion)
  • Shortall, S. 2003 (PI) Women and ecological innovation. Scottish Government. £55,000
  • Shortall, S. 2021. (PI) The UK and Ireland Rural Futures Network. Economic and Social Research Council. £22,000
  • Shortall, S. 2021. (PI) Women entrepreneurs on English Farms. £28,000
  • Shortall, S. 2020. (Co-I) Rural England: Local perspectives on community and economy. Defra. £258,000
  • Shortall, S. 2020. (Co-I) Non-agricultural seasonal workers Scotland. Led by Diffley consultants. £120,000.
  • Shortall, S. 2020. (PI) Gender mainstreaming the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund. European Court of Auditors, £15,000 Business Engagement Fund, Newcastle University. £10,740.
  • Shortall, S. (2017). Changing the ground rules? Inclusive debates about women in Scottish agriculture. ESRC Impact Acceleration. 
  • Shortall, S., Frewer, L., Whittingham, M.J., Lietz, G. and A.M. Gatehouse. (2017). Developing a strategic research agenda to promote agri-technology in Tanzania. N8 Internal Research Pump Priming
  • Shortall, S. 2016. (PI) The energy-climate-food security nexus: developing a multi-stakeholder deliberative governance model in Northern Ireland. Economic and Social Research Council Nexus, £160,000
  • Shortall, S. (2016) Women and agriculture in Scotland. Scottish Government.
  • Shortall, S. (2015) A conceptual review of rural proofing and the rural champion in Northern Ireland. Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute Northern Ireland.
  • Shortall, S. (2014) Improving Barnardo’s provision of services for rural families of primary school children. Barnardo’s Northern Ireland.
  • Shortall, S. (2012) Northern Ireland Longitudinal Study, Census Data and Disability Research. Office of the First Minister, and Deputy First Minister, Northern Ireland.
  • Shortall, S. (2012) Gender Mainstreaming the Rural Development Programme. Economic and Social Research Council. ESRC RES/J010316/1
  • Shortall, S. (2008) Economic and Social Research Council Placement Fellow with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Northern Ireland ESRC RES-173-27-0096
  • Shortall, S. (2008) Older People for Older People (Northern Periphery Programme, INTERREG).
  • Shortall, S and European Colleagues (2005) European Food Systems in a Changing World. (European Science Foundation/ COST)
  • Shortall, S (2004) Public attitudes to the countryside in Northern Ireland. Economic and Social Research Council/ Ulster Farmers’ Union
  • Shortall, S. and S. Porter (2004) Occupational Health and Safety on Farms in the Armagh and Dungannon Region. Armagh and Dungannon Health Action Zone, and the Health and Safety Executive
  • Shortall, S. (2003) Workshop on the Rural Economy and Land Use Programme. Economic and Social Research Council.
  • Shortall, S. (2000) Gender Proofing CAP Reforms (Peace and Reconciliation Programme) January 2000-July 2001
  • Shortall, S (1998) Social Exclusion in Rural Areas. £57,000 (European Union LEADER Programme). 1998-2002
  • Shortall, S. (1998) Social Exclusion in Rural Areas, (European Union LEADER Programme). This research was part of a programme of research undertaken by the former Queen’s Centre for Rural Studies.
Teaching

Teaching Awards:



  • Shortall, S. (2011): Funding for Innovative Teaching for the School of Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work. Queen's University Belfast Annual Fund.
  • Shortall, S. (2005): Learning to write: Communicating post-graduate research to academic, policy and practitioner audiences. Teaching Quality Enhancement Award


Areas of Teaching Competence:


  • Rural Sociology
  • Sociology of Work
  • Industrial Sociology
  • Community Development/ Community Studies
  • Sociology of Organisations
  • Introduction to Sociology
  • Gender Studies
  • PhD Supervision to completion:


  • Robertson, Arlene. Migrant labour in food processing industries in Northern Ireland. 2012- 2015. DARD funded.
  • Braunholtz-Speight, Tim. Community, power and land reform in Scotland. Registered with the University of the Highlands and Islands, Scotland. Defended December 2015, minor revisions. Funded by the University of the Highlands and Islands. 
  • Mason, Karla. Civilised Spaces, Healthy Bodies, Hygienic Souls: Pursuing Purification at the Animal-Human Interface. Completed 2013. DEL funded, with support from the School of Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work.
  • McVay, Lori. Leadership and rural women: barriers and enablers. Completed 2011. American student, self-funded.
  • Ni Dhonaill, Caoimhe. Ageing in rural societies: a comparison of Northern Ireland and Zambia. Completed 2012. Funded by the Changing Ageing Partnership.
  • Roginsky, Sandrine. The Third Sector and Social Change: Comparing Women's Organisations in Northern Ireland and Ile-de-France. Completed 2006. French student. Funded by the Royal Irish


External Examining:


  • BA and MA Sociology, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. 2016-2019
  • BA Sociology and MA Criminology, Bangor University, Wales. 2010-2013
  • BA and MA Sociology, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland 2010-2013
  • BSC Rural Development, National University of Ireland 2004-2007
  • Senior External Examiner, University of the Highlands and Islands, Rural Studies Degree, Scotland (1999-2002)
  • External expert evaluating the syllabus of the Rural Studies Degree for the University of the Highlands and Islands, May/ June 1999


External Examiner for PhD Candidates:


  • Wageningen University, 2025; University of Nottingham, 2025; Maynooth University, 2025; Wageningen University, 2024; University of Limerick, 2023; Regent’s University, UK, 2023; Manchester University, UK, 2023; University of Exeter, 2022: Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 2021University of Chester, 2018; Monash University, Australia, 2017; University of New South Wales, Australia, 2016; University College Dublin, Ireland, 2014; Wageningen University, the Netherlands, 2014; University of South Australia, 2013; Wageningen University, the Netherlands, 2013; Newcastle University, England, 2012; University of the Highlands and Islands, Scotland, 2011; University of Durham, England 2008; University of New England, Australia, 2008; Charles Sturt University, Wagga, Australia, 2007; Wageningen University, The Netherlands, 2006; University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham, England 2005; Glasgow University, 2004; University of Manchester, England 2004; National University of Ireland 2004; Manchester University, 2000; University of New South Wales, Australia, 1993.


PhD Supervision to completion: Over ten PhDs supervised to completion and over 100 MSc students. 


Current teaching commitments:


  • Co-developed a new module, SOC3098 Community and Conflict in the Countryside. Taught across HASS and SAGE. Included field trip, movie and debate. 2018-
  • Contribute to the team taught MSc in Food and Rural Development: ACE8050 Rural Development: Theory and Practice. 2018
  • First supervisor of two funded PhD students 2018-
  • Committee member for two PhD students 2018-
  • Internally examined two CRE PhD candidates 2018.
  • Supervisor for one MSc student 2018-




 

Publications

  • Articles

  • Authored Books

    • Shortall S, Bock B. Gender and Rural Globalization: International Perspectives on Gender and Rural Development. Oxford, UK: CAB International, 2017.
    • Shucksmith M, Brown D, Shortall S, Warner M, Vergunst J. Rural Transformations and Rural Policies in the UK and the US. London and New York: Routlede/Falmer, 2012.
    • McDonagh J, Varley T, Shortall S. A Living Countryside? The Politics of Sustainable Development in Rural Ireland. Aldershot: Ashgate, 2009.
    • Bock B, Shortall S. Rural Gender Relations: Issues and Case Studies. Oxford: CAB International, 2006. In Preparation.
    • Shortall S. Gender and Power - Women and Farming. London: Macmillan, 1999.

  • Book Chapters

    • Shortall S, O Collins. Does gender matter?. In: Bosworth, G; Chapman, P; Newbery, R; Steiner, A; Webber, DJ, ed. Rural Entrepreneurship: Harvesting Ideas and Sowing New Seeds. Emerald Publishing, 2025, pp.219-232.
    • Budge H, Shortall S. Sustainable rural communities and patriarchal structures: The case of Shetland’s Lerwick Up-Helly-Aa. In: Attorp A; Heron S; McAreavey R, ed. Rural Governance in the UK: Towards a Sustainable and Equitable Society. London: Routledge, 2022, pp.180-197.
    • Budge H, Shortall S. ‘Covid-19, gender, agriculture, and future research. In: in Castellanos, P., Sachs, C. and Tickamyer, A, ed. Gender, Food and COVID-19: Global Stories of Harm and Hope. New York: Routledge, 2022. In Preparation.
    • Shortall S. The role of women as sustainable food producers in rural communities. In: Heidegger P; Lharaig N; Wiese K; Stock A; Heffernan R, ed. Why the European Green Deal Needs Ecofeminism – moving from gender-blind to gender-transformative environmental policies. Brussels: European Environmental Bureau, 2021, pp.114-119.
    • Shortall S, Adesugba M. Gendered farming organizations: the value of North/ South comparisons . In: Sachs, CE; Jensen, L; Castellanos, P; and Sexsmith, K, ed. Routledge Handbook of Gender and Agriculture. London: Routledge, 2021, pp.287-297.
    • Adesugba M, Oughton E, Shortall S. Farm household livelihood strategies . In: Sachs, CE; Jensen, L; Castellanos, P; Sexsmith, K, ed. Routledge Handbook of Gender and Agriculture. London: Routledge, 2021, pp.315-325.
    • Shortall S, Hansda R. Gender and Caregiving. In: The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 2020, pp.1-2.
    • Sherry E, Shortall S. The Needy Rural – Does Living in a Rural Area Mean that You Are in Need?. In: Halseth, G; Markey, S; Ryser,L, ed. Service Provision and Rural Sustainability: Infrastructure and Innovation (Perspectives on Rural Policy and Planning). Oxford and New York: Routledge, 2019.
    • Shortall S. Planning the farmyard: gendered implications. In: Scott, M, Gallent, N. and Gkartzios, M, ed. The Routledge Companion to Rural Planning. Oxford and New York: Routledge, 2019, pp.327-335.
    • Shortall S, Regan E, Dewhirst D. Knowledge Exchange Seminar Series: An effective partnership to increase the public value of academic research findings. In: Lindgreen A; Kitchener MH; Brewer JD; Moore M; Meynhardt T; Koenig-Lewis N, ed. Public Value: Deepening, Enriching, and Broadening the Theory and Practice of Creating Public Value. London: Routledge, 2019, pp.316-323.
    • Sherry S, Shortall S. The Needy Rural – Does Living in a Rural Area Mean that You Are in Need? . In: Greg Halseth, Sean Markey, Laura Ryser, ed. Service Provision and Rural Sustainability: Infrastructure and Innovation. Routledge, 2018.
    • Shortall S. Rural and gender identity. In: Shortall, S. and Bock, B, ed. Gender and Rural Globalization: International Perspectives on Gender and Rural Development. Oxford: CAB International, 2017.
    • Bock B, Shortall S. Gender and rural globalisation: an introduction ot international perspectives on gender and rural development. In: Shortall, S. and Bock, B, ed. Gender and Rural Globalisation: International Perspectives on Gender and Rural Development. Oxford: CAB International, 2017.
    • Shortall S. Gender and Agriculture. In: Shortall, S. and Bock, B, ed. Gender and Rural Globalisation: International Perspectives on Gender and Rural Development. Oxford, UK: CAB International, 2017.
    • Shortall S, Bock B. Conclusions - future directions. In: Shortall S; Bock B, ed. Gender and Rural Globalisation: International Perspectives on Gender and Rural Development. Oxford: CAB International, 2017.
    • Shortall S. Gender and identity formation. In: Brown D; Shucksmith M, ed. The Routledge International Handbook of Rural Studies. London and New York: Routledge/Falmer, 2016, pp.400-411.
    • Shortall S. Changing configurations of gender and rural society: future directions for research. In: The Routledge International Handbook of Rural Studies. London and New York: Routledge/Falmer, 2016, pp.349-356.
    • Shortall S. Using Scientific Knowledge in Policy Making: The Importance of Organisational Culture. In: Fleck, C. and Hess, A, ed. Knowledge for Whom? Public Sociology in the Making. Routledge, 2014, pp.145-162.
    • Shortall S. Gender mainstreaming or strategic essentialism? How to achieve rural gender equality. In: Pini, B., Brandth, B and Little, L, ed. Feminisms and Ruralities. Lexington Books, 2014.
    • Radford K, Shortall S. Social enterprising communities: the dynamics and readiness for service innovation. In: Farmer, J., Hill, C. and Muñoz, S.A, ed. Socially Enterprising Communities: Service Co-Production in Rural Areas. UK/USA: Edgar Publishing, 2012.
    • Shortall S, Warner M. Rural Transformations: Conceptual and Policy Issues. In: Shucksmith, M., Brown, D., Shortall, S. and Warner, M, ed. Rural Transformations and Rural Polices in the UK and US. London: Routledge, 2012.
    • Varley T, McDonagh J, Shortall S. The politics of rural sustainability. In: McDonagh, J., Varley, T., and Shortall, S, ed. A Living Countryside? The Politics of Sustainable Development in Rural Ireland. Aldershot: Ashgate, 2009, pp.1 - 24.
    • McDonagh J, Varley T, Shortall S. Sustainability and getting the right balance in rural Ireland. In: McDonagh, J., Varley, T., Shortall, S, ed. A Living Countryside? The Politics of Sustainable Development in Rural Ireland. Aldershot: Ashgate, 2009, pp.381 - 384.
    • Shortall S, Byrne A. Gender and sustainability in rural Ireland. In: Mcdonagh, J., Varley, T., Shortall, S, ed. A Living Countryside? The Politics of Sustainable Development in Rural Ireland. Aldershot: Ashgate, 2009, pp.287 - 302.
    • Shortall S. Gender and Rural Politics: an Overview. In: Bock, B. and Shortall, S, ed. Rural gender relations: issues and case studies. London: CAB, 2006, pp.243 - 251.
    • Shortall S. Gender and Farming: an Overview. In: Bock, B., Shortall, S, ed. Rural gender relations: issues and case studies. London: CAB, 2006, pp.21 - 30.
    • Shortall S. Economic Status and Gender Roles. In: Bock, B. and Shortall, S, ed. Rural gender relations: issues and case studies. London: CAB, 2006, pp.340 - 355.
    • Shortall S. Conclusions: future directions for rural gender research. In: Bock, B. and Shortall, S, ed. Rural gender relations: issues and case studies. London: CAB, 2006, pp.405 - 413.
    • Shortall S. Political Climate and Gender Relations: Northern Ireland Politics and Farm Women. In: Little, J. and Morris, C, ed. Critical Studies in rural Gender Issues. Aldershot: Ashgate, 2005.
    • Shortall S. Gender aspects of the Common Agricultural Policy. In: Konecny, M, ed. EU Accession and Agriculture: Making CAP work for people and the environment. Brussels: Earth Europe, 2004, pp.37 - 40.
    • Shortall S. Examining Rural Development Practice from a Gender Perspective. In: Konecny, M, ed. EU Accession and Agriculture: Making CAP work for people and the environment. Brussels: Friends of the Earth, 2004, pp.77 - 80.
    • Shortall S. The Hawthorne Effect. In: Miller, R. and Brewer, J, ed. A-Z of Social Research. London: SAGE, 2003.
    • Shortall S. Save the West Movement. In: The Encyclopedia of Ireland. USA: Yale University Press, 2003.
    • Shortall S. Rural Development. In: The Encyclopedia of Ireland. USA: Yale University Press, 2003.
    • Shortall S. Participatory Action Research. In: Miller, R. and Brewer, J, ed. A-Z of Social Research. London: SAGE, 2003.
    • Shortall S. LEADER. In: The Encyclopedia of Ireland. USA: Yale University Press, 2003.
    • Shortall S. Common Agricultural Policy. In: The Encyclopedia of Ireland. USA: Yale University Press, 2003.
    • Shortall S. Agriculture. In: The Encyclopedia of Ireland. USA: Yale University Press, 2003.
    • Shortall S. European policy and gender relations: A case study of Northern Ireland. In: The New Challenge of Women’s Role in Rural Europe. Nicosia, Cyprus: Agricultural Research Institute, 2002, pp.263 - 279.
    • Shortall S. Comparing case studies of farm women across national boundaries. In: Alston, M, ed. Setting the Agenda for Rural Women: Research Directions. Wagga Wagga, Australia: Centre for Rural Research, Charles Sturt University, 2002.
    • Davis J, Shortall S. Towards a brave liberal world? Living with European policies. In: Davis, J, ed. Rural Change in Ireland Belfast. Institute of Irish Studies, 1999, pp.182 - 216.
    • Shortall S. State mediation of gender relations in farming Gender, Farming and Change: Examples from Northern Ireland, Canada and Norway. In: Kasimis, C, ed. Local Responses to Global Integration. Hampshire: Ashgate, 1999.
    • O'Connor P, Shortall S. Does the border make the difference? Variations in women’s paid employment, North and South. In: Breen, R., Heath, A. and Whelan, C.T, ed. Irish Society North and South. Oxford University Press, 1999, pp.285 - 318.
    • Shortall S. Gender, Power and Farming: Northern Ireland, Canada and Norway Compared. In: Leonard, M. and Byrne, A, ed. Gender in Irish Society: A Sociological Profile. Belfast: Beyond the Pale Publications, 1997.
    • Shortall S, Bryden J. Consequences for the Rural Economy and Society. In: Ehrensaft, P, ed. Rural Restructuring - Future Prospects. Canada: Brandon University Press, 1997.
    • Osborne R, Gallagher A, Cormack R, Shortall S. The Implications of the Policy Appraisal and Fair Treatment Guidelines in Northern Ireland. In: McLaughlin, E. and Quirk, P, ed. Policy Aspects of Employment Equality in Northern Ireland. Belfast: The Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights, 1996.
    • Shortall S. Farm Women in Europe - Future Research Issues. In: Bryden, J, ed. Towards Sustainable Rural Communities. Canada: University of Guelph, 1994.
    • Breen R, Shortall S. The Exchequer Costs of Unemployment Among Unqualified Labour Market Participants. In: Bradley, J. and Fitzgerald, J, ed. The Role of The Structural Funds: Analysis of the Consequences for Ireland in the Context of 1992. ESRI Policy Research Series, 1992, pp.155 - 186.

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