Tanya Barron, celebrated humanitarian disability specialist, has taken her place as CEO of Plan UK.

Formerly international director at Leonard Cheshire Disability, Barron won the European Woman of Achievement (Humanitarian) Award in 2003, recognising her 'above and beyond' contribution to the humanitarian sector.

The former zoo keeper and special needs teacher has now worked in the charity sector for more than 18 years, including seven years at VSO and as director of Home-Start International for five years, where she remains a trustee. From 1995-2002 she was the chair of the Unicef NGO committee for CEEC/CIS in Geneva.

Her move to Plan UK, announced in civilsociety.co.uk's Who's Moving in November, will see Barron work towards the charity's goal of helping some of the world's most marginalised children.

"I'm looking forward to continuing Plan's excellent work in moving disadvantaged childre from a life of poverty to a future with opportunity," she said.

Plan UK, which celebrated its 75th anniversary last year, is one of 14 members of the Disasters Emergencies Committee of humanitarian organisations, having joined in July 2011. Barron joins Plan UK at a time when the charity has reported a £16m income boost in the past five years, which it attributes to an increase in child sponsorship, grants and corporate partnerships, although income decreased by just over £2m last year.