Research Coordinator at Atlantic Technological University (ATU), coordinating the strategic development of interdisciplinary research, enterprise & innovation networks and leading researcher engagement across ATU’s nine campuses in the west and northwest of Ireland:
Galway City – Dublin Road | Galway City – Wellpark Road | Connemara | Mountbellew | Mayo | Donegal – Killybegs | Donegal – Letterkenny | Sligo | St. Angela’s.

Extensive knowledge and understanding of multi-actor projects, stakeholder 
engagement and the development of impactful, high-level research outputs tailored to diverse audiences across policy, research and practice, particularly in the agri-food sector. Widley published in academic journals, policy  domains and media outlets. Actively represent various institutions on national and international advisory committees to advance context-sensitive approaches to engaged research and evidence-informed public policy.

Dr Conway was previously Project Manager and Adjunct Lecturer in the Discipline of Geography's Rural Studies Centre at the University of Galway from September 2017 to July 2025 where he most recently led the Communication, Dissemination and Exploitation (C,D&E) Work Package (WP) of the €4.9million PREMIERE Coordination and Support Action (CSA) Horizon Europe Project that the University of Galway are a partner in. This project is aimed at strengthening the multi-actor approach (MAA) in the agri-food and forestry sectors by supporting the development of coherent and well-prepared multi-actor Horizon Europe project proposals amongst Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS) actors across policy, research and practice in a co-creative way. Shane also co-authored the successful tender for the €3million FLIARA (Female-led Innovation in Agriculture and Rural Areas) Horizon Europe Project as part of this role.  FLIARA aims to challenge existing gender norms and stereotypes, increasing gender consciousness through a recognition and appreciation of the actual impact and economic value that women have in rural economies and rural development. Shane was previously Lead Researcher on the Irish National Rural Network (NRN) project at the University of Galway, where he was responsible for managing and coordinating the network's work on the LEADER, EIP-AGRI Generational Renewal in Agriculture aspects of Ireland's Rural Development Programme (2014-2022) on behalf of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) and the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD).

Dr Conway's research interests are in agricultural and rural geography and social sciences, with a particular focus on older farmers, intergenerational farm transfer, the human side of agriculture, the Multi-actor Approach (MAA) and stakeholder engagement. Shane has published extensively on these topics in peer-reviewed academic journals such as the Journal of Rural Studies, Sociologia Ruralis and the Journal of Agromedicine over the 12 years.

International FARMTRANSFERS Project Co-Director

Co-Director of the International FARMTRANSFERS Project with Professor Matt Lobley from the Centre for Rural  Policy Research, University of Exeter, U.K., a global collaborative research effort employing a  standardised, copyrighted questionnaire to yield a range of (largely quantitative) data relating to the pattern, process and rate of succession and retirement which provides a firm base for future inquiries in this area utilising different methodologies aimed at influencing policy, research and practice. Over 18,000 farmers, in 13 countries throughout the world and 8 U.S. States have completed the copyrighted FARMTRANSFERS questionnaire, to date.

Farmer's Yards, Social Initiative for the Farming Community

Most recently, Dr Conway received funding from the University of Galway's Illuminate Programme to develop a social initiative for the older generation of the farming community called Farmer's Yards, successfully piloted in Ireland in 2023 and now in operation in the state of Pennyslvania, U.S.A. through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture funding. Established to accommodate the interests, requirements and values of older farmers, this initiative is working to promote social inclusion and, in turn, well-being in the farming community by providing farmers with a platform to come together as a local peer group in a Livestock Mart (Auction) environment.

International Farm Transition Network (IFTN) Board of Directors – Vice Chairperson (June 2021 – Present)

Vice Chairperson of the IFTN, a U.S.A. based network of service providers from different professional backgrounds (e.g., research, accountants, lawyers, farm managers, ag lenders, extension educators, etc.) working to assist farm businesses and ranchers through the various stages of the transition process to an identified successor(s). Fellow Board Members include Academics and Field and Outreach Specialists from Ohio State University, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, University of Missouri, South Dakota State University, Iowa State University and University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Dr Conway presented on the topic of 'Intergenerational Considerations for Generational Renewal in Agriculture Policy' at the IFTN's in-person annual conferences in Richmond, Virginia in June 2024 and in Lincoln, Nebraska in June 2022 as Vice Chairperson of this organisation. Shane also delivers annual training to IFTN members on the human side of farm succession and retirement in later life as part of this role, hosted by South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension in the U.S.A. Dr Conway also completed the IFTN Farm Succession Coordinator Certification Training Programme at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, U.S.A. in September 2015.

Academic Awards
- Geographical Society of Ireland (GSI) Doctoral Research Award 2020. This award was open to any graduate of a Higher Education Institute on the Island of Ireland who had successfully defended their PhD degree since January 1st, 2016.
- Member of the National Rural Network team at the University of Galway who won the President's Award for Societal impact in November 2019.
- Geographical Society of Ireland Postgraduate/Early Career Network Poster Award at the 50th Conference of Irish Geographers (CIG) in May 2018. 
- Best Student Paper at the University of Galway Geography Postgraduate Research Symposium in April 2017.
- Awarded an exchange place at University of California, Davis’ Agricultural Issues Centre, as a visiting scholar during the academic period September to December 2015. 
- Awarded a position on an Erasmus Intensive Programme Project entitled 'Achieving Sustainable Development on an Island. Social Ecology Concepts and Methods in a Real-world Context' in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Island of Samothraki, Greece in May 2014.

Funding
- Member of the Pennsylvania Farm Link (PFL) consortium who led the tender for the Farmer’s Yards social initiative for farmers proposal funded by the Northeast Extension Risk Management Education Center located at the University of Delaware through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture in June 2024. Award Amount: $74,756.
- Member of the University of Galway Rural Studies Centre research consortium who led the tender for the FLIARA HORIZON Europe Project in January 2023. The full project budget is 3million (€599,811,25 to University of Galway).
- Member of the University of Galway Rural Studies Centre research consortium who won the tender for the PREMIERE HORIZON Europe Project in January 2023. The full project budget is €4.9million (€425,375,00 to University of Galway).
- University of Galway Innovation Office Illuminate Programme Recipient · September 2022
- University of Galway Innovation Office Illuminate Programme Recipient · September 2021
- University of Galway College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Celtic Studies Research Support Scheme (RSS) Award in June 2020.
- University of Galway Ryan Institute Travel Award in May 2019. 
- Member of the University of Galway research consortium who won the tender for the RURALIZATION HORIZON 2020 Project in May 2019. The full project budget was 5.9million (€500,195.00 to the University of Galway).
- Rural Sociology Society, Graduate Student Travel Award to attend and present at the 80th Annual Meeting of the Rural Sociological Society, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.A., in July 2017.
- Rural Sociology Society, Diversity Travel Bursary to attend and present at the 80th Annual Meeting of the Rural Sociological Society, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.A., in July 2017.
- University of Galway College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies, Postgraduate Research Travel Bursary in 2017.
- University of Galway College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies, Postgraduate Research Travel Bursary in 2016.
- Member of the University of Galway research consortium who won the tender for the National Rural Network 2020 Project in January 2015. The full project budget was €2.5million (€433,661.00 to University of Galway).
- University of Galway College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies, Postgraduate Research Travel Bursary in 
2015.
- International Rural Sociology Association, XIV World Congress of Rural Sociology, Congress Registration Bursary, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada in August 2016.
- Geographical Society of Ireland Postgraduate Fieldwork/Travel Bursary Award in May 2015.
- University of Galway College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies, Doctoral Research Scholarship 2013-2017