Firth, a Harvard graduate with a Masters in Urban Design, has held senior positions at PLP Architecture, Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates and the LSE Cities Programme during her 25 years in the industry.

Her work at the OPLC will see her tasked with the Legacy Communities Scheme - a masterplan to develop the Park over the next 20 years, where she will shape the look and feel of the Park as it develops, as well as improving the fringe areas around the Park through a series of community-focussed design projects.

She will also be overseeing a major competition to create London's newest public space sitting between the Olympic Stadium, the ArcelorMittal Orbit and the Aquatics Centre.

"Being able to influence one of the most important regeneration projects of the century is a truly extraordinary opportunity for any urban designer," Firth said.

"The standards of design that we set out now will set the tone for all future development on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

"It is vital that this area is seen as a blueprint for 21st century living and loved by all those who live, work and visit."

The Olympic Stadium itself remains embroiled in a saga that sees West Ham United nd Tottenham Hotspur, along with Leyton Orient, vying for the rights to take over the ground following the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Last month, Tottenham and Orient were granted permission to seek a judicial review into the awarding of the ownership of the Olympic Stadium to West Ham after a high court judge ruled there were sufficient grounds for a review into the process by which the East London club were unanimously chosen as the preferred bidder of the arena.

This latest decision has also overshadowed London's bid to stage the 2017 IAAF World Athletics Championships, particularly as the date for the hearing is set for October 18 - just three weeks before the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) are due to chose the host city for the competition.

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