She was elected to the Nith Ward seat in the local government elections earlier this month and immediately took over from Ronnie Nicholson as the leader of the regional Labour party.
They have done a deal with the SNP to become the council’s new administration and SNP group leader Rob Davidson has been named deputy council leader.
The Conservatives secured 16 seats in the elections but now find themselves as the Opposition.
The first meeting of the region’s 43 newly elected councillors is taking place in Dumfries this morning.
