Dundee University academic Alyson Leslie is to help probe historical allegations of child abuse on Jersey.
She has been named on the independent panel that will try to find out what went wrong in care and foster homes on the island going back to the 1960s.
It is the latest in a series of inquiries that began in 2007 after allegations of abuse at former children’s home, Haut de la Garenne.
Ms Leslie is an expert in child care inquiries and reviews and has investigated the deaths of children and harm to children across the UK for more than 20 years.
She worked with Haringey Council in the aftermath of Baby Peter’s death to see how the lessons learned from the tragedy had been implemented.
She runs the fatality review and investigation studies team at the university.
Ms Leslie said the inquiry was aware potential witnesses, among them those who had lived in care and foster homes on Jersey, were now scattered across the UK and further afield.
“This is a population that has now dispersed across the globe, but it is vital we hear from them if we are to fully understand what happened in care and foster services over a long period of time,” Ms Leslie said.
She is joined on the inquiry panel by chairwoman Frances Oldham QC and Professor Sandy Cameron, former director of social work in Scotland and chairman of the parole board. The year-long inquiry begins on April 3.
Carrie Modral, from the Jersey Care Leavers Association, said: “I am very pleased. This is a step in the right direction and it is important people come forward and give their testimony.”