The Disasters Emergency Committee has appointed Tanya Steele to its board of trustees as an independent trustee.
She will succeed Baroness Helene Hayman when the trustee completes her second term this month after six years on the board.
Steele has served as the chief executive of WWF since 2017 and previously held positions at two DEC member charities.
She began her career in the sector as a volunteer for the British Red Cross, before moving to Save the Children, where she drove supporter growth and income as the charity’s executive director of marketing, fundraising and communications.
Steele later led the organisation as interim chief executive.
Commenting on the news of her appointement, Steele said: “My first involvement with the DEC was only three months after joining Save the Children in response to the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami. This proved to be a turning point for the sector and the DEC’s role within it, and [was] one the most humbling and defining experiences of my career.”
“This redefined the relationship between the delivery of aid, the power of the media, and the UK public’s desire to help which the DEC movement continues to successfully build on. I am delighted to now join the board and help contribute to the DEC’s continued success.”
Sue Inglish, chair of the DEC Board of Trustees, added: “[Tanya] joins the DEC board at a time where we’re seeing many changes in our sector and that of our partners in the media and corporate world.
“We are delighted to welcome Tanya with her long standing knowledge, experience and strategic insight will be of immense value to DEC as we all navigate an ever changing world.”
Inglish also expressed her thanks to outgoing trustee Hayman, who helped launch 11 appeals that raised more than £470 million for the DEC during her six-year tenure.
“[Baroness Hayman] brought to the Board a wealth of experience on health in developing countries and has made a significant contribution to our work over the past few years,” Inglish said.
“She will be missed, but we wish her all the best in her next pursuits.”