Jane Simpson has been named as the newest board member of Dover Harbour Board.

A statement from The Port of Dover, welcomes Ms Simpson and says she joins at a "pivotal time with its £250 million investment in new infrastructure coming on stream."

This investment, according to the statement, will support a portfolio of growing businesses, including cruise and cargo, alongside the development of a 30-year master plan to deliver the ferry port of the future."

Dover Harbour Board manages the Port of Dover. The board's chairman Richard Everitt CBE said: “I am delighted to welcome Jane Simpson to the Board.

"With her background in infrastructure and engineering alongside extensive experience in large capital programme delivery and asset management, Jane brings a strong skill set that will enhance the board’s governance during a period of major and ongoing investment.”

Such skills have been developed through key appointments at Network Rail, where Jane was latterly chief engineer and interim group safety, technical and engineering director, as well as more recently as head of capital delivery for Severn Trent Water.

Jane Simpson said: “I am excited to join the Board of the Port of Dover at such a critical time.

"I have been greatly impressed with the commitment and vision to deliver an exemplary port for their customers and community, and I look forward to supporting their journey as the port embarks on the next phase of its development."

'Jane brings a strong skill set that will enhance the board’s governance during a period of major and ongoing investment,' - Richard Everitt CBE

Previously featured in the Telegraph’s top 50 women in engineering and the Financial Times’ 100 women to watch, the board believes Jane’s position will also provide increased support to the board’s diversity agenda, the port being a signatory to the Maritime UK Women in Maritime pledge to drive gender diversity throughout the organisation and wider industry.

The Port of Dover is in the midst of its Dover Western Docks Revival Project, a scheme which is bringing big changes to the waterfront.

Under the scheme, the brand new 500metre Marina Pier was opened in May, followed by completion of the refrigerated cargo terminal, and two new deep-water berths, of 250 to 300 metres in the summer. First vessell arrived there last week. A new marina is being worked on.

The port has been granted permission to dredge the Goodwin Sands, a shifting sand bank off Deal, for aggregate to complete its works, and has been embroiled in a legal battle with campaigners who are against this.

The DWDR is expected to be finished by next year.