Barlow, who joins from the Institute of Fundraising where she was commercial and events director, will have overall responsibility for marketing, communications and strategic development.
Barlow oversees a seven-strong communications advice team, which organises more than 200 events a year in the voluntary sector. A central plank of her work is to boost sponsorship deals.
Barlow joins after a ‘slight restructure’ following the departure of former chief operating officer Dyrol Lumbard, who left in February to work as a consultant. She reports to Media Trust chief executive Caroline Diehl.
‘My brief is to raise the profile of the Media Trust and talk to the media industry along with charities. We are here to help the charitable sector communicate more effectively,’ she said.
Her brief includes promoting the established Community Channel, the Community News Wire and TV production unit.
Diehl said that Barlow’s ‘mix of TV and voluntary sector experience will be perfect for us and all of our partners’.