Two-time Paralympic swimmer Annabelle Williams has been elected chairperson by her colleagues, while table tennis player Daniela Di Toro - a six-time Paralympian and co-captain of the Australian team at Rio 2016 - will serve as vice-chairperson.

Williams was part of Australia’s 4x100 metres medley relay team at London 2012, four years after claiming 100 metres butterfly S9 bronze at Beijing 2008.

Prior to taking up table tennis in 2015, Di Toro was a tennis player and won women’s doubles silver alongside Branka Pupovac at Sydney 2000 and women’s singles bronze at Athens 2004.

Among the other inaugural Athlete Commission members are wheelchair racer Angie Ballard, cyclist Carol Cooke, canoeist Curtis McGrath, boccia player Dan Michel, wheelchair basketball player Sarah Stewart and Alpine skier Toby Kane.

Swimmers Blake Cochrane, Prue Watt and Sarah Rose complete the list of members. 

The Athlete Commission has been formed "n recognition of the clear advantages to be gained from continuous and meaningful engagement with Australia’s Paralympians".

APC chief executive Lynne Anderson claimed the time was right for athletes to be given greater input when it comes to shaping the future of the Australian Paralympic Movement.

"Our athletes are at the heart of everything we do at the APC and hopefully the establishment of the APC Athlete’s Commission will take our engagement with our athletes to a new whole new level," she said.

"We are amazed by the calibre of the people who form this Commission.

"They bring an outstanding and diverse range of skills and experiences and I’m sure they will be led brilliantly by Annie and Danni - two incredible ambassadors for Paralympic sport.

"I know the APC Board and management are very excited to work closely with the Athlete Commission and we are excited by what we can achieve together."

Meeting for the first time in Sydney, the Athlete Commission addressed the immediate need to establish a strategic direction, terms of reference and effective governance structures.

Kate McLoughlin, Chef de Mission of the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Australian Paralympic teams, claimed the inaugural meeting showed the potential of the Athlete Commission to make a meaningful impact.

"It was such a privilege to attend the meeting and experience the energy in the room," she said.

"Every member of this Commission brings a passion for excellence and I know they will make things happen.

"We are looking to them for leadership and to represent the views of Paralympic athletes across all sports to help the APC and our partners ensure they are accessing the information and support required.

"We also see the Athlete Commission as one of the driving forces of the Mob, connecting the present to the past and the future with a strong focus on nurturing well-being not just related to sport."

A leadership team has also been established as a conduit between athletes within their respective sports, peers outside their sport, and the Athlete Commission itself.

The team includes the members of the Athlete Commission along with the likes of swimmers Ellie Cole and Matt Levy, wheelchair basketball player Grant Mizens, cyclist Hannah Macdougall, rower Kat Ross and triathlete Katie Kelly.

Javelin thrower Maddy Hogan, goalball player Nicole Esdaile and equestrian rider Sharon Jarvis also feature in the line-up.