Australia’s Minister for Sport Bridget McKenzie revealed Fearnley, Amanda Laing, Andrew Ireland and Pippa Downes had all been appointed.

The quartet have all become members of the Board at Sport Australia for three-year terms.

Fearnley’s Para athletics career spanned five Paralympic Games and saw him win wheelchair marathon gold at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

The 37-year-old is a member of the International Paralympic Committee’s Athlete Council and is on the Board of the Australian Paralympic Committee.

Laing currently works with Australian pay-TV company Foxtel as their chief commercial officer, while Ireland is a former Australian rules footballer turned sports administrator.

The fourth appointee Downes is a merchant banker and non-executive director at Australian Technology Innovators.

"These four new appointees are highly accomplished and respected Australians across a range of fields and we are fortunate that progressing Australian sport is a passion they all share,” Sport Australia chair John Wylie said.

"I have every confidence their valuable perspectives and experience will benefit the Sport Australia Board and, in turn, Australian sport.”

Nine others already sit on the Board, including chairman Wylie, politician Pat Farmer and former Australian Sailing President Andrew Plympton.

“The appointments will strengthen the commercial capability of the organisation and have been made at an exciting time for Australian sport as Sport Australia plays a lead role in the delivery of the Government’s Sport 2030 - National Sport Plan,” Minister McKenzie said.

“The commissioners will strengthen the implementation of Sport 2030 given the wide ranging skills and extensive experience they bring to the table.”