Tom Schuller has been appointed as director of The Commission of Inquiry into the Future for Lifelong Learning.
Mr Schuller said: "It is a huge and unique opportunity to make a difference to how people of all ages have access to learning – something I have advocated for many years."
Mr Schuller is the current head of the Centre for Educational Research and Innovation (CERI) at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
"My experience in an international context at OECD shows me a major paradox," he said. "All countries are aware of the challenge to our education systems by demographic, social and economic change, but very few are really committed to lifelong learning to meet these challenges at a strategic level.
"Boosting levels of young people’s achievement is not enough. We need a radical, practical and imaginative rethink of the best ways of enabling adults to learn, and of giving the biggest bang for the educational buck."
He continued, "I honestly believe that with this inquiry we can draw on different strands within the UK to offer a policy model to the world, as a country with a real commitment to innovative thinking and strategic action."
