The Directory of Social Change has appointed Nick Seddon, journalist and author of the book Who Cares? as its new chair.

Seddon, 31, has a keen interest in government and public services and been a social policy features writer for The Guardian and contributor to The Economist magazine. A Cambridge University graduate, Seddon has been a research fellow at Civitas and is currently head of communications at Circle Health. In February he will be starting a new role as deputy director of independent thinktank Reform.

He has been a trustee of the DSC for the last two years.

DSC’s chief executive, Debra Allcock Tyler, said: “Nick has proven his credentials during his two years on our board and has been an engaged and inspiring trustee. He is the DSC’s youngest-ever chair. It is exciting to have a chair who is so passionately interested in the sector, particularly going into an election year where the sector is going to be the focus of a great deal of attention.  This is going to be great fun.”

Seddon said: "This is a tremendously exciting time for the DSC, an organisation which has done an incredible amount over the years to support charities and to champion independence in the sector.

"The new role is a challenging one, but it is an honour for me to have been elected to this post. As a board collectively we have a tremendous pool of talent, and I am committed to the development of an effective organisation that enables charities to transform society.”