Ridwana Wallace-Laher has been appointed the new Chief Executive Officer of an international Muslim charity.

Ridwana, a former teacher at the Yorkshire (Bradford) Co-op Academy Grange will head Penny Appeal and said she was looking forward to taking the organisation forward.

Ridwana Wallace-Laher said: “It has been an honour to have been part of the core unit that has led the positive change Penny Appeal has made in the faith-led charity sector globally.

"My commitment to greater governance, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement, combined with my background as a senior teaching professional, make me confident that I can drive Penny Appeal’s success even further in the future."

Mohammed Jahangir, Chairman of Trustees, said: “I am delighted to welcome Ridwana Wallace-Laher as new CEO of Penny Appeal. She stood out against all other candidates through a tough selection process, and I am proud to have her as our new CEO of Penny Appeal.

“Ridwana Wallace-Laher is the first Muslim woman to hold the CEO position at a major international charity; may she be the first of many Muslim women to do so.

"At a time when the world is facing a global economic crisis, when many in the UK and abroad are struggling to feed themselves and pay electricity bills, and when people in Turkey and Syria are suffering due to the recent earthquake, we at Penny Appeal are trying our best to help those who need it by supporting them and providing aid during these times or events. The trustees are confident that Ridwana is woman who will take Penny Appeal to new heights in order to help those in need."