Office of the Children’s Commissioner head of policy and public affairs Emily Frith has been appointed chief executive of Adoption UK.

She is to join after five years in charge of lobbying for the Office of the Children’s Commissioner for England and Wales.

Her previous roles include special adviser to deputy PM Nick Clegg during the coalition government. She has also been a director of mental health and rehabilitation at the Education Policy Institute.

“I am passionate about achieving change for children, particularly those who have a difficult start in life, and giving them a voice and control in the decisions that affect them,” she said.

“One of my priorities will be to meet AUK’s new adoptee advisory groups and work with them to build relationships with the wider community of adopted people.”

She joins as the charity looks to make a “strategic shift to put the voices and needs of adopted children and adults more firmly at the heart of the charity's work”, said Adoption UK.

This includes involving advisory groups of adopted people in its decision making around programmes, support and research.

Adoption UK chair Mike Robeiro added: “Emily is the right leader at the right time for our organisation. Her extensive experience in policy and public affairs in the fields of health and social care and her work with disadvantaged children give her a really strong platform from which to advocate for all those who are adopted, and the families and professionals around them."

Frith replaces Sue Armstrong Brown, who stepped down earlier this year after five years leading the charity. She is now global director of environmental impact and thought leadership at environmental charity CDP.

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