Paula has been a trustee of the charity since 2009 and has served as vice chair for the past year.

She previously worked for Smithkline Beecham on strategic product developments and acquisitions and has served on numerous NHS boards.

Motivated by her Christian faith, Kerr is particularly interested in improving outcomes for people who are disabled, disadvantaged or vulnerable in some other way.

She takes over from Baroness Howarth of Breckland OBE, who is stepping down after four years as the charity’s chair.

Baroness Howarth will continue in her role as president. In her tenure as chair, she led the charity through a dramatic period of change when John Grooms and the Shaftesbury Society merged in June 2007 to form Livability. She had been involved with John Grooms as a trustee for several years before assuming the role of chair.

Kerr said she was delighted to be leading Livability through a new period of development.

"The charitable sector is currently experiencing unprecedented changes in government policy and funding," she said.

"I will continue to ensure that Livability speaks up for disabled people in these difficult times.

"They are our inspiration, and our aim is to provide the help and support they require to achieve higher levels of choice, independence and control.”

Baroness Howarth welcomed Kerr to her new role, saying her "tremendous" knowledge of disability issues would be invaluable to the charity.

"I am proud of the quality of the services we provide and I look forward to witnessing the development of new services which enable our beneficiaries to live life to the full," she said.

Mike Smith, Livability Chief Executive said: "I am delighted to welcome Paula as Livability’s new Chair. She brings to the organisation her passion about disability issues and her strong commitment to continuing the charity’s work supporting and empowering disabled people."