The Prime Minister has chosen the Associate Editor of The Sunday Times, Camilla Cavendish, to be the new Head of the Downing Street Policy Unit.

Her appointment follows a distinguished career at News UK, where her groundbreaking work as a journalist and campaigner has earned her a reputation for exposing injustice and changing legislation.

Cavendish joined The Times in 2002, where she worked as a Columnist, Associate Editor and Chief Leader Writer.

In 2008 her work exposing child protection injustices convinced the Government to introduce legislation to open the family courts, earning her the prestigious Paul Foot Award and Campaigning Journalist of the Year at the British Press Awards.

Martin Ivens, the Editor of the Sunday Times, said: "I'm delighted for Camilla Cavendish. She has been a first class columnist for the Sunday Times and a great ambassador for the paper.  We all wish her well in pursuing what has always been her passion for policy, and the chance to see that being put into practice.”

In 2013, having since moved to The Sunday Times, Cavendish was asked by the Secretary of State for Health to lead an independent review into the NHS, published as The Cavendish Review. Among her recommendations were calls for the introduction of training standards across health and social care.

Cavendish has appeared regularly as a commentator on television and radio. One of her most notable appearances was on BBC’s Question Time where she debated a number of key political issues with activist Russell Brand and Ukip leader Nigel Farage.

Cavendish obtained a first class degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Brasenose College, Oxford University and won a scholarship to the John F Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. She is a former trustee of Policy exchange and a Board member of Care Quality Commission.

In her new position, the mother of three will lead the team, which works for the Prime Minister, formulating policy and helping to drive through his priorities.

Cavendish will write her final column for The Sunday Times this Sunday, May 24.