Currently the head of the diagnostic radiology programme at the University of Salford, Professor Hogg qualified as a diagnostic radiographer in 1984. He became a Fellow of the College of Radiographers in 2008.

Professor Hogg addressed the changing nature of the radiography profession and looked to the future to predict what is likely to change, and remain stable over the next 10 to 15 years.

He examined the importance of predicting the future of the profession, and encouraged students and radiographers to think beyond their own horizons; insisting that the profession can rely in part on what the past has taught, but sometimes that it must think more creatively about its future, using imagination to proactively drive change.

He then discussed how the profession must adapt to the introduction of new technologies and how they will fit with the change in patterns of illness that will occur over the next 10 to 15 years.

Here, Hogg made the point that the profession’s future will need to encompass the correct equipment to deal with surges in new illnesses; staff skills will need to change to accommodate this, and appropriate funding will need to be adjusted.

Hogg concluded by saying that the future of the workforce will need to adapt quickly to new techniques and technologies. Training will have to be proactive and professional – research will be essential for all aspects of practice, and funding will need to be targeted at areas where research is essential.

“Holistic planning will become commonplace 10 to 15 years in our future”, he said. “We should imagine what we desire and create it, adapting new ways of thinking to shape our future.” 

• UKRC was held in Birmingham from Monday 7 to Wednesday 9 June. Many thanks to all the students who attended UKRC and showed their support by visiting the Society & College of Radiographers' stand. The winner of the Ipod Touch was Terry McDermott at Bangor University.