^{Picture: © Kate Elliott}

Brett, who was awarded the honour for ‘services to the Arts’, said: ‘This is a great honour and one which deserves to be shared among all my team, without whose support and commitment I could not have achieved all that I have.

‘I now look forward to the next exciting phase in the evolution of the gallery and its ongoing role in championing and developing photography as a leading art form.’

Brett (pictured) has played a key role in promoting photography as an art form in the UK over the past 30 years.

She became director of The Photographers’ Gallery in 2005.

Previously, Brett worked as deputy director and head of exhibitions at the British Council’s visual arts department, where she was responsible for establishing the photography programme and policy.

The Photographers’ Gallery opened its new base in Soho in May 2012.