The former diplomat Baroness Valerie Amos has been chosen to lead a rapid review of maternity care in England.
In a letter to families who have been failed by poor maternity care, Health Secretary Wes Streeting said she "brings a wealth of experience through her senior leadership roles in national and international organisations".
The other members of the panel have not been named, amid significant concern from some families that those proposed are not independent of the NHS.
There has been no announcement of which NHS Trusts will have their maternity services investigated by the review. The Health Secretary said up to 10 areas could be examined.