The former short track speed skater will take up the post having acted as the Canadian Olympic Committees (COC’s) Chef de Mission for the Lillehammer 2016 Youth Olympics and as the assistant to Curt Harnett at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Both Charest and Harnett has also worked together at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games.

Charest won three Olympic medals during her career, including earning silver as part of Canada’s 3,000 metres relay team at Lillehammer 1994.

She would also win bronze medals in the event at both Nagano 1998 and Salt Lake City 2002, but is now focusing on helping Canada’s athletes prepare for next year’s edition of the Games.

“Over the course of my career and life, I had the privilege of being surrounded by mentors and people that get heavily involved in sport or other fields, which allowed me to evolve as an athlete, but also as a person,” Charest said.

“I think that I’m now in a position where I can have that type of influence.

"It's such an honour to have been chosen to lead a great team of athletes into Pyeongchang 2018.

"Canadian athletes are performing so well on the World Cup circuits and I look forward to using all my experience to create an environment for them to compete at their best when it matters the most."

The 46-year-old, who won three world titles during the course of her sporting career, has been backed for the role by COC President Tricia Smith.

Smith claimed Charest ticked all the boxes required to take up the role, which will see her act as the spokesperson for Team Canada, mentor athletes, coaches and staff.

She will also be tasked with ensuring the environment surrounding the athletes will help them produce their optimum performances at the Games.

"Isabelle has every quality we look for in a Chef de Mission," said Smith.

"Her outstanding career as an athlete, strong passion for the Olympic movement and a proven track record as a leader and team player.

“We are so fortunate and honoured to have such a genuine role model to lead our team into South Korea."

Canada will hope to maintain their strong performances at the Winter Olympics, having ended Sochi 2014 with their second highest medal haul, after earning 10 gold, 10 silver and five bronze at the Games.

Their best tally of medals came four-years earlier in front of a home crowd, as the Canadian team ended Vancouver 2010 with 14 gold, seven silver and five bronze.

The result was enough to top the overall medals table at a home Games.

Charest’s appointment comes as Pyeongchang 2018 prepare to celebrate the one-year to go milestone this Thursday (February 9).

Over 6,500 athletes and officials from 95 countries are expected to be at the Games, which will see events in 15 disciplines contested from February 9 to 25 next year.

Paralympic gold medallist Todd Nicholson is leading the Canadian team for the Pyeongchang 2018 Paralympic Games.