SUSIE Parsons, formerly chief executive at the Commission for Racial Equality (1999-2001), is to become head of the national lifelong learning charity Campaign for Learning. She takes over in June when Bill Lucas, the present chief executive, becomes an independent consultant. Ms Parsons, who began her career as a French teacher in an inner-city school, has been director of community education for Shelter, general manager of the London Energy and Employment Network and chief executive of London Lighthouse. She left the CRE in 2001 to work as an independent management consultant.

SHARON Wright takes over next month as managing director of School Works, the initiative sponsored by the Department for Education and Skills that promotes new approaches to designing schools. She joins the not-for-profit company from the Office for Public Management, where she specialised in public-sector education and organisational development.