Carers UK has announced Caroline Waters OBE, Deputy Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission and former Director of People and Policy at BT, as its new Vice President.

Caroline Waters, founding Chair of Carers UK’s business forum, Employers for Carers (EfC), said: “I am delighted to become a Vice President of Carers UK. Our ageing population means that caring responsibilities are becoming a reality for more and more people and families. This is one of, if not the social issue of the next decade.

I believe passionately that in supporting those we love through illness, disability and old age we should not lose the ability and rights to live full and balanced personal and working lives.

Carers UK has, through its history, played a pivotal role in making life better for carers. I am immensely proud to have been able to work with the charity through Employers for Carers and look forward to now being more closely involved with the wider work of Carers UK.”

Caroline Waters stepped down as director of people and policy at BT earlier this year, after 34 years at the company. In April she retired as chair of Employers for Carers after 10 years at the helm.

She said her new role at Carers UK will enable her to continue her drive to ensure that government provides the legislative framework, services and guidance that will enable families to support their loved ones care needs at every stage of their lives.

As EfC chair Caroline Waters was influential in changing legislation to extend the right to request flexible working. She has also been the driving force of many other diversity-focused groups, helping to found the Employers' Forum on Belief, and as Chair of the Lone Parents working group.

She co-chaired the Government commissioned Task and Finish Group on carers in employment whose landmark report on the economic case for supporting working carers, published earlier this year.

Heléna Herklots, chief executive of Carers UK said: “Caroline has a hugely distinguished record on equality, inclusion and supporting carers and we are honoured she is becoming a Carers UK Vice President. Caroline has a long-standing connection with our work and an honest, determined passion to help improve the lives of those who are caring for loved ones today and the millions who will do so in the future.”

Caroline Waters was HR Director of the year in 2009, she was awarded the OBE for services to diversity and equal opportunities in 2010, chairs a DWP Taskforce focused on the transition of Young Disabled People into work, and is a trustee of Whole Education.