Mark Shucksmith

Mark Shucksmith is a rural sociologist and Professor of Planning at Newcastle University.

He was Director of Newcastle University’s Institute for Social Renewal from 2012-18, and is also Visiting Professor in Ruralis at the University of Trondheim (NTNU). Before he joined Newcastle University he was Professor of Land Economy at the University of Aberdeen.

He is a Trustee of Carnegie UK, Macaulay Development Trust and European Rural Communities Alliance. In recent years he chaired the Scottish Government’s Committee of Inquiry into Crofting, acted as specialist advisor to two House of Lords select committees, and was a Board member of the Countryside Agency, Commission for Rural Communities and Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE).

Professor Shucksmith was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2009 New Year Honours.

Research interests include: poverty and social exclusion in rural areas, sustainable ruralism, rural development, agricultural policy, and affordable rural housing. He is author of numerous books.