The Hansard Society has appointed a new chief executive.

The non-partisan political research and educational charity has announced that Fiona Booth will take its top position.

Ms Booth was previously the Hansard Society’s deputy chief executive and director of its Citizenship Education programme.

She is a qualified primary and secondary school teacher and has expertise in the development and delivery of political literacy resources.

She has also worked with MPs and parliamentarians from across the political spectrum to promote wider participation in formal political processes and to ensure that young people’s voices are heard by policy makers.

Chair of the Hansard Society, Lord Holme, said: "I am very pleased to confirm the appointment of Fiona Booth as successor to Clare Ettinghausen as chief executive of the Hansard Society.

"With her strong background in participation and engagement with political processes she will be pivotal to the future of the Hansard Society," he added.

Ms Booth commented: "Over the next few months I’ll be working … to refresh and further develop the Hansard Society’s long-standing and highly-regarded work to strengthen parliament and promote democracy."

She starts work in her new position today (Monday, April 30).