Anyone attending this year's CIEH annual conference, held in Harrogate last month, could be forgiven for coming away with a rather large headache (and I'm not talking hangovers here).

With talk of a looming staff crisis in environmental health, poor public perception of the job, lack of grass-roots enthusiasm for centre and branch activities, a severe shortage of student placements within local authorities, employers stifling the ambitions of young EHOs once in the workplace, competing pressures on resources, and lack of central government action - the mountain of problems facing the profession could appear insurmountable.

Yet, for the optimists among us, a whole host of positive initiatives and messages outshone the negatives. Lord Hunt, Under Secretary of State for health, was upbeat about the future of public health, and the overriding message in his keynote address was that the role of local authorities in protecting public health is being driven up the political agenda. Health action zones, primary care trusts (PCTs), the setting of health inequality targets and the new partnerships being forged between between PCTs and local authorities are becoming the cornerstone of the public health agenda, he said.

The second new professionals conference, which ran alongside the main event, once again proved to be a massive success - with the participation of younger delegates helping to revitalise the main debates. Sessions on illegal meat imports, body piercing and food allergies grabbed the attention of the media, with the CIEH being extensively referred to on television, radio and in the national press throughout the week.

So, we kick off this post-conference issue with a four-page pictorial of the week's event - look out for some well-known faces!

In his opening address, Brian Hanna, CIEH president, said that he gained great personal and professional pride in observing members' and centres' involvement in outreach programmes. The international initiatives, he said, ensured that the CIEH motto "is not an empty claim". Following the recent twinning between the Yorkshire and Humberside Centre with the Botswana Environmental Health Officers Association, Bontle Mbongwe looks at the country's emerging environmental health problems.

Not surprisingly, food hygiene and safety was a well debated issue this year, and Nick Warburton reports on the seriousness of food allergies, and why EHOs are being called on to help food businesses be clearer to consumers about the products they are selling.

The student presentations are always a popular event, and John Haswell presents the findings of a study to review the effectiveness of food enforcement auditing by the Food Standards Agency. It might be controversial, but is well worth a read, even if you do not agree with all the points.

Finally, the quote of the week came from CIEH chairman, Clive Wadey, who said that councils, which do not offer student placements "should be ashamed", while those that do "should do another one!" The decline in student numbers is of serious concern to the profession, and we look at some of the ideas to emerge from the week regarding new EHOs.

While the CIEH has already launched its careers material and "speakers packs", and has pledged to give members free training on public speaking and presentation skills, the Chartered Institute cannot tackle the recruitment issue alone. With your help, the future of the profession can be secured...

Tracey Khanna Editor