The former Conservative Party comms director Carrie Symonds has become head of communications at a the wildlife charity The Aspinall Foundation.
The charity aims to protect rare and endangered species and preserve the habitats they live in.
Symonds joins the charity from marine conservation charity Oceana, where she specialised in combating plastics pollution.
She will continue to advise Oceana, on a consultancy basis, on its global plastics objectives.
Last year, Symonds was named “person of the year” by the animal rights charity Peta, which described her as a true ally to animals whose activism secured results.
As well as releasing animals back into the wild, The Aspinall Foundation operates two UK wildlife parks – the Port Lympne Hotel and Reserve and the Howletts Wild Animal Park.
It aims to close both parks in the next 25 years.
Damian Aspinall, chairman of the foundation, said: “Carrie takes up her new role at an exciting time for the foundation and we are delighted to have someone of her calibre on the team.
“She’s a passionate champion for wildlife and conservation, whose energy and expertise will be a huge asset to us. “