Alison Bowden is Director of Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature Trust and works locally and internationally to promote and develop Edinburgh as a literary city. She has 10 years’ experience in book publishing in Scotland, in various roles, working as a Commissioning Editor at Polygon and publishing Alexander McCall Smith’s The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, and later as Rights Manager at Edinburgh University Press.

In addition to publishing, she has many years of experience in the Scottish arts and culture environment, working on committees, as a speaker, chairing events and as an advisor. She has worked in journalism for both radio and print, and spent five years working within the music sector as a live music promoter and event organiser.

She was a judge for the Saltire Society Literary Awards, is Co-Vice Chair for Literature Alliance Scotland and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from Edinburgh Napier University for her contribution to Scotland’s literary and cultural reputation.

Currently she is leading City of Literature’s flagship project to create a Literature House for Scotland on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile.

The City of Literature Trust office is supported by freelancers and volunteers and by the Trust's board members.