Marion Davis

The board now has a female majority for the first time in the festival’s 73-year history.

Ms Davis brings to the board over 17 years’ experience of specialising in charity and related areas of law as well as her experience as chair of Project Ability, a charity that supports people with learning disabilities and mental ill-health to achieve their artistic potential.

She will share the Edinburgh International Festival’s board with other new additions including Leonie Bell of Renfrewshire Council, director of digital products at BBC Chris Condron, rector of the University of Edinburgh Ann Henderson, Standard Life Aberdeen chief executive Keith Skeoch and award-winning journalist Yasmin Sulaiman.

Ms Davis said: “I am excited and proud to be part of this forward thinking board. My talented counterparts come from a wide variety of sectors and I look forward to working with new and existing board members for this inspiring and internationally renowned festival.”