UK Council

The UK Council is the board of directors and the executive committee for the Society.

  • President

    Thomas Welton

    Qualified as a diagnostic radiographer, Tom has worked in multiple modalities including CT, MRI and projectional radiography. Currently, Tom is the lead clinical educator at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, working alongside the undergraduate radiographer programme at Cumbria University. Tom is a certified industrial relations representative, as well as being a union learning rep, and he has successfully supported members through a range of consultations, service redesigns and improvements; work that led to him winning the SoR UK Rep of the Year award in 2018.

  • President Elect

    Katie Thompson

    Katie is Chair of UK Council. She qualified as a Diagnostic Radiographer in 1993 at the Lincolnshire School of Radiography, before training as a sonographer at Cardiff University Hospitals. Katie has worked in the NHS all of her career, at Princess Margaret Hospital, The Great Western Hospital, Gloucester Royal and Cheltenham General. Katie really enjoys teaching and has set up training programmes for midwives to perform presentation scans and a gynae and early pregnancy programme for the obs and gynae rotational doctors, for which she won the Southwest Deanery trainee of the year. She became an Industrial Relations rep around 10 years ago, winning Southwest Rep of the Year in 2019. Katie became part of UK Council in 2020 to help promote the Radiography profession and represent the interests of all Society members. Katie became a trustee on the College of Radiographers board in 2023.

  • Immediate Past President

    Dave Pilborough

    After completing a degree in Accountancy & Finance and 2 years spent crunching numbers, Dave came late to Radiography. After some personal motivation and a chance reading of an advert in a local paper, Dave studied Radiotherapy & Oncology at Liverpool University and trained at the Royal Preston Hospital. Having been a student rep on two occasions, taking up the role of IR rep seemed a natural step. Dave was IR rep at the Royal Surrey Hospital, before moving to the Midlands and continuing the role at the Royal Derby Hospital where he is now a Treatment Team Leader.

  • Vice President

    Rachel Nolan

    Rachel is a qualified Radiographer and Sonographer with over 30 years’ experience. During those 30 years she has seen and been involved with many changes in the profession with the introduction of digital technology and Radiographers advanced practice. Rachel is passionate about the profession and positive about looking at ways the profession could evolve to provide a modern patient centred service. Never wishing to shy away from debate on issues she enjoys speaking at conferences to promote the profession and has had the privilege to do so several times.

  • Scotland Representative

    Dr Margot McBride

    After eleven years practising as a Diagnostic Radiographer, Margot took up an academic post at Leeds School of Radiography, followed by a University of Edinburgh research post. Key achievements include Head of Radiography at Glasgow Caledonian University, and the MSc Advanced Practice in Radiography, University of Dundee. She developed the first computerised patient positioning tool and advised on the development of remote-controlled x-ray table systems. For this, she was awarded an Enterprise Fellowship of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. This was followed by the Fellowship of the College of Radiographers and a PhD in Cushing syndrome and disease. Currently, Margot is Clinical Advisor for two product companies and a PhD Supervisor, University of Dundee. Margot is keen to bring her business skills to advise on strategic policies in radiography education and new technologies.

  • Wales Representative

    Clive MacCallum-Roberts

    Clive is an advanced practice radiographer specialising in GI Imaging at Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board in North Wales, having graduated from Bangor University in 2005 with a BSc (Hons) in Diagnostic Radiography and Imaging, followed by an MSc in Advanced Medical Imaging from the Salford University in 2016. Over the years he has developed both the adult and paediatric videofluoroscopy service to be a practitioner-led examination and has trained two more advanced practitioners to support the upper GI imaging service. In addition to teaching radiography students at Bangor University, Clive is also a guest lecturer for Speech and Language therapists at Wrexham University. Special interests include Clinical Governance and Health and Safety.

  • Northern Ireland Representative

    Laura McGirr

    Laura graduated from University of Liverpool in 2010 with a BSc(Hons) in Radiotherapy. She has worked in many departments across the UK in a range of different roles including pre-treatment, treatment delivery and clinical education for pre and post registration learners. She returned home to Northern Ireland to take up the role of Practice Educator within the North West Cancer Centre, Londonderry in 2019. Her passions include the training and development of pre and post registration learners within radiotherapy. This led to her gaining a Post Graduate Certificate for Health Professionals with Distinction from Ulster University in 2021. Laura is an accredited Practice Educator through the CoR Practice Educator Accreditation Scheme (PEAS). She is also an accredited Union Learning Rep which provided a helpful and interest insight to the workings of the SCoR. This interest alongside encouragement from colleagues, led to Laura joining UK council in January 2024 where she hopes to represent the voices of Radiographers from across Northern Ireland, strengthen collaborative working across the UK and promote Radiotherapy.

  • Midlands Region Representative

    Leah Marsden

    Leah joined the SoR as a student and has remained in it ever since, also becoming an Industrial Relations Representative not long after qualification. Leah had spent several years in a different career and only became a Diagnostic Radiographer after seeing a public transport advertisement explaining the role. Leah eventually worked her way up to advanced practitioner in ultrasound, and the learning and teaching of her modality is a true passion. Building on her research experience, she is also interested in promoting research at the front lines of the profession, as well as radiographer role development. Having worked in different settings including internationally, she returned to the NHS in 2018 and plans to remain there until she retires. A frequent attender of the Annual Delegates’ Conference (ADC), Leah joined UK Council in 2023 and looks forward to continuing to promote the profession.

  • Yorkshire & Nth Trent Region Rep

    Atique Hussain

    Atique is an academic in Diagnostic Radiography from Bradford, UK, he is dedicated to enhancing healthcare through practitioner competence and equity. Graduating in 2017 from Sheffield Hallam University, he started in Projectional Radiography and specialized in CT, obtaining a Postgraduate Certificate in CT. As a clinical mentor, he fosters Radiographer growth. As an Academic at the University of Bradford, Atique pursued postgrad qualifications in MRI and Medical Education, earning Higher Education Academy fellowship. He's a proactive educator, deeply proud of Radiography. Appointed to the UK Council for Yorkshire and North Trent in 2023, he aims to engage under-represented groups.

  • South East Region Representative

    Robin Bickerton

    CT lead radiographer working in Horton hospital Banbury which is part of Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust. I have been an industrial relation rep for the last 15 years. I am privileged to serve as the Southeast Council Member. I have been involved with the South-East region of the Society of Radiographers since being a first year radiography student. In the past I have been vice chair of staff side which gave me lots experience dealing with policies and negotiations as well as engaging with other unions and management. I've also been involved with The British Society for the History of Radiology for many years and I am very keen to have the work of our profession recognised and remembered for posterity. I have a keen interest in how people with neurodivergent disabilities are treated in society and in the work place as I am severely dyslexic myself. As a band 7 in a DGH I understand the challenges faced by the members of the SoR every day as I face them myself. I have always enjoyed serving my colleagues and the SCoR to the best of my abilities.

  • Scotland Representative

    Susann McCracken

    Susann qualified from Glasgow Caledonian University in 2000 with a BSc(HONS) in Therapeutic Radiography. Since then, she has had the privilege to work in many different departments across the UK and Ireland, with two of those years working in New Zealand. She has also been fortunate to be able to gain experience within all areas of radiotherapy at a senior level, including brachytherapy, planning, pre-treatment, treatment, and management. It is this experience that that has made her passionate about supporting and encouraging all radiographers to have the opportunity to learn and grow and remain passionate about their career. Last year Susann was given the opportunity to become an observer to the UK Council. This gave an insight to how radiographers can be involved on a national and international level, and the opportunity they can have to influence key decisions. As a newly appointed UK Council member in 2023 she looks forward to becoming part of UK Council and representing Scotland.

  • SoR Trustee

    Scotland Representative

    Sharon Stewart

    Term of office to July 2022.