Rose Caldwell to join Plan International UK as new Chief Executive

Global children’s charity Plan International UK has appointed Rose Caldwell as its incoming Chief Executive.

Rose joins the organisation from Concern Worldwide (UK), where she has been Executive Director for the last 10 years. During her leadership, Rose increased the organisation’s resources available to tackle extreme poverty and brought a focus on hunger and malnutrition to the forefront.

Rose has over 20 years’ experience in senior roles in the not for profit sector, including as the Finance Director of a mental health charity and as Assistant Director for the Refugee Housing Association. A qualified chartered accountant by training, Rose spent the first ten years of her career in the private sector. Her experience as a volunteer with Raleigh International in Zimbabwe and with Concern Worldwide in Burundi in the 1990s ignited a desire and commitment to working to address inequality and poverty.

She is currently on the Board of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) and Chair of Trustees of the International Broadcasting Trust (IBT).

She said: “I am thrilled to be joining Plan International UK at this time. The recent resurgence of interest in gender equality needs to be harnessed to permanently change the future for today’s children.

“Poverty and inequality disproportionately affect women and children and there is still much to be done if we are to ensure children’s and girls' voices are heard and their rights realised. Plan International UK’s work on children’s rights and equality for girls is inspirational and I look forward to working with staff, the youth advisory panel, trustees, partners, supporters and the wider Plan organisation to create a fairer world.”

Rose will start her new role on 2 September, taking over from Tanya Barron who is retiring after six years in post.

Professor Sir Ian Diamond, Chair of the charity, said:

“I am delighted to welcome Rose to Plan International UK. We are at an exciting time in the organisation’s history and Rose’s experience of working in NGOs in low income countries and of advocating for those most in need will be ideal for the next stage of Plan International UK’s journey.”