Brunner, who represented New Zealand at the Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, joins the Committee as a continental representative of the National Olympians Associations of Oceania.

Her appointment takes the number of board members in the WOA to 18.

The member organisation for Olympians worldwide says this follows "a sustained period of growth", following their updated constitution being passed at their General Assembly in October.

“I am grateful to be named as the Oceania representative on the Board of the World Olympians Association to work on behalf of my fellow Olympians both regionally and globally; it is a fantastic opportunity and a great challenge that I am excited to undertake,” said Brunner.

“The Olympic Games are a special moment in any athlete’s life, more often the pinnacle of our careers.

“But it’s important that athletes feel supported at all stages of their lives both during and after their competitive careers, which is why the WOA’s role within the Olympic Movement is an important one and why I am looking forward to being a part of it.”

Brunner is currently chair of the New Zealand Olympians Commission and previously served as a board member of the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC), where she convened their Athletes’ Commission.

According to the WOA, she is well-known within Olympic circles as someone who actively works to benefit the lives of fellow Olympians and the community, while she will bring crucial experience as a solicitor in international corporate and commercial law.

WOA President Joël Bouzou claimed that the addition of Brunner would benefit the organisation due to her experience as both an elite athlete and a sports administrator.

“Chantal has proven herself to be a dedicated and passionate member of the Olympic Family, not only through her achievements as an athlete but also through her work within the NZOC as leader of her country’s Athletes’ Commission and more lately as chair of the New Zealand Olympians Commission,” he said.

“We are confident Chantal will make an excellent addition to our leadership team and we look forward to working closely with her in the future as we continue to develop and grow the organisation.”

The next full meeting of the WOA Executive Committee, which now contains equal numbers of men and women from all five continents, is scheduled to take place in Rio de Janeiro in August during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.