Dr Roger Coates, SRP Honorary Fellow and former President of SRP, will become the next President of the International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA) taking over from the current President, Renate Czarwinski, at IRPA14 in Cape Town in May.

"I am indeed honoured to be nominated for the role of IRPA President for the period 2016 – 2020, and look forward with immense pride to taking up the role at the IRPA14 International Congress in Cape Town in May. This is an exciting time for IRPA as we seek to deliver our vision as the international voice of the radiological protection profession. In this capacity we are increasingly representing the views of the practitioners in discussions with many international organisations, including ICRP and IAEA. I am conscious that I follow a distinguished line of IRPA Presidents from SRP, including Geoff Webb (2000 – 2004), John Lakey (1988 – 1992) and WG Marley (1970 – 1973). I will do my utmost to maintain their high standards and integrity."

Roger was educated at the Universities of Cambridge and Reading and holds a degree in Natural Sciences and a PhD in physics. After post-doctoral work he joined the Health Physics and Safety Department at the Sellafield site of British Nuclear Fuels plc (BNFL) in 1975.

He worked in the nuclear industry for BNFL for over 30 years, holding radiation protection roles covering operations, environmental protection and emergency planning. His responsibilities broadened to encompass nuclear safety, together with conventional safety and environmental issues. He completed his BNFL career as Director of Environment, Health and Safety.

On retiring from BNFL he worked for the period 2006-2008 with IAEA. He is currently a Non- Executive Director of the UK LLW Repository and a consultant to other UK nuclear organisations and the IAEA.

Roger has extensive radiological protection experience across the whole field of operations, environment and the underpinning standards and science. He has made a direct contribution to national and international radiation protection standards through work with the UK Health and Safety Commission’s Advisory Committees, IAEA and ICRP. He was a Member of the ICRP Task Group on Occupational Exposure and a co-author of the resulting ICRP Publication 75.

He served on the Scientific Programme Committee for IRPA10 Hiroshima, and was IRPA Vice President for Congress Affairs from 2008-2012, becoming Congress President for the IRPA13 International Congress in Glasgow. For the period 2012 to 2016 he has served as the IRPA Vice President.