She was appointed to this role after serving seven years as chair of the Recognition Committee. This Scottish government initiative designates and invests in nationally important collections held outside national museums and galleries.

Ray has held several public appointments in the culture sector including trustee and deputy chair of the National Galleries of Scotland, chair of Scottish Screen and deputy chair of the Scottish Arts Council.

She recently completed a term of office as chair of Home Scotland and was a non-executive director of Home Group.

Ray graduated MA, LLB, MBA. from the University of Glasgow and began her career as a solicitor in private practice. She then took up senior management roles in Scottish Enterprise, where she was the managing director, and Bank of Scotland where she was a senior director and head of Group Community Investment.

She is now chair of the Scottish Legal Aid Board.

Ray is a Trustee of the Hopetoun Foundation and of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.