The Disabled Living Foundation (DLF) has announced the appointment of Margaret McKinlay as its new Chair of Trustees.

Ms McKinlay's career has been spent in the public and private sectors of the energy industry where she has undertaken a number of senior roles.

Having begun work in the civil service at the Department of Energy, Ms McKinlay moved to Centrica plc where she ran various businesses, including a spell as Director of Scottish Gas.

Latterly she was Change Management supremo in their business systems group. Ms McKinlay says of her appointment: "I know from first hand experience that achieving true independence in later life or when disabled is a challenge."

"Helping my parents and sister-in-law to find equipment solutions that were suitable and affordable made me realise the importance of having comprehensive, reliable and accurate information. I am delighted to be leading the DLF which is the UK's foremost provider of information and advice in this field."

Nicole Penn-Symons, Chief Executive of the DLF, says: "We are thrilled to have Margaret McKinlay as our new Chair of Trustees."

"The DLF is at a critical point in its development and her skills in change management, her practical and pragmatic approach combined with strategic vision will be enormously valuable. We very much look forward to working with her."