By Claire Racine

The UK overseas equine welfare charity, the Brooke, has announced the appointment of its new chief executive, Petra Ingram.

Using a network of mobile veterinary teams, field clinics and community animal health workers, the Brooke provides care and treatment in conjunction with training to help teach communities how to care for the animals, horses, donkeys and mules, on which their lives depend.

Taking over for Mike Baker on 1 July 2009, Ingram plans to build on the work developed by Baker and continue working to reach their five-year goal of improving the welfare of at least two million working horses, donkeys and mules in the developing world.

Under Baker’s leadership, the charity previously working in only four countries grew to operate worldwide helping more than 700,000 working animals.

“I would like to see continued growth with greater impact over the next few years and will be working with our teams across the world to deliver this,” Ingram said.