Appointed by the Prime Minister, she brings a wealth of cultural, heritage and business expertise to the 15 strong-Board which leads the biggest investment in UK heritage.

Ray will have specific responsibility as Chair of the Scotland Committee and joins at a time when increased decision-making means that the Committee will decide on all funding up to £5million for the first time. She will also play a key role in leading the Committee as they respond directly to Scottish heritage priorities.

A former Senior Director of HBOS plc and Managing Director of Scottish Enterprise, Ray is Chairman of Museums Galleries Scotland - the National Development Body for the Scottish museums sector. She took up this position after serving seven years as Chairman of the Recognition Committee, a Scottish Government initiative which formally recognises and invests in collections of national significance held in non- national museums and galleries throughout Scotland.

Ray graduated MA, LLB, MBA from the University of Glasgow and began her career as a solicitor in private practice. She is currently Chairman of the Scottish Legal Aid Board and has held a variety of non-executive posts in the public and private sectors including Trustee and Deputy Chair of the National Galleries of Scotland, Chairman of Scottish Screen and Deputy Chairman of the Scottish Arts Council. She is a Trustee of the National Galleries of Scotland Foundation and of the Hopetoun House Foundation.

The appointment is for a period of three years.