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Wendy will represent the University of Edinburgh among the 11-strong group of leading UK academics, researchers and public officials.

The new body, UKRI will work in partnership with universities, research organisations, businesses, charities, and government to create the best possible environment for research and innovation to flourish.

Operating across the whole of the UK with a combined budget of more than £6 billion, brings together the seven Research Councils, Innovate UK and a new organisation, Research England.

Loretto and her External Advisory Group colleagues will work with UKRI to identify and prioritise areas to progress on equality, diversity, and inclusion in the research community.

The research landscape today faces significant challenges in ensuring everyone can thrive, regardless of ethnicity, gender, age, sexuality, disability, social class or other characteristics. Having devoted my career to understanding the impact of these areas on working life, I am proud to have the chance to play a role in shaping a UK research community which supports opportunities for all.

Full membership of the group is:

• Dr Dina Belluigi, Queen’s University Belfast
• Ms Zamila Bunglawala, Cabinet Office
• Dr Rosanna Duncan, Palladium Ltd
• Miss Zabeen Hirji, Strategic Advisor, Canada
• Professor Wendy Loretto, University of Edinburgh Business School
• Mr Simon McKeown, Teesside University
• Dr Claire Murray, Diamond Light Source
• Dr Eugene Oteng-Ntim, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
• Professor Giovanni Razzu, University of Reading
• Dr Karen Salt, University of Nottingham
• Professor Tom Welton, Imperial College London

Professor Wendy Loretto is Dean of University of Edinburgh Business School and Professor of Organisational Behaviour.