England, a silver medallist in the 1500 metres at the 2011 International Association of Athletics Federations World Championships in Daegu, will serve an initial four-year term.

She will also represent British athletes on the UK Members Council.

Ultra-runner John Pares and 400 metres hurdles specialist Richard Yates have each been elected vice-chairs.

Pares competes in the vet 50 category and won the Commonwealth Ultra Marathon 24-hour road race in Llandudno in 2011.

Yates finished fifth at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi before winning a 4x400 metres relay bronze at the same event.

They are joined by nine other members, including 2011 world 400m hurdles champion Dai Greene and Beijing 2008 Olympic javelin bronze medallist Goldie Sayers.

Race walker Tom Bosworth, high jumper Isobel Pooley, discus thrower Abdul Buhari, 400m runner Jamie Bowie and another ultra distance runner, Robert Britton, are also included.

Two Paralympians complete the line-up.

They are three-time Paralympic gold medallist club thrower Stephen Miller and shot putter Vanessa Wallace.

"It is a real honour to have been elected as chair of the Athletes’ Commission," said England.

"The Commission is packed with enthusiasm and drive to ensure the views of our athletes are both heard and understood throughout UK Athletics, and it’s fantastic that British Athletics has formed the Commission, this commitment to optimising communication between athletes and our governing body creates a great platform for productive enterprise.

"As a group we have many areas that we are passionate about addressing, and we look forward to sharing these over the next few months.

"The Commission is also keen to have a strong dialogue with the British athletes; we want our agenda to be in line with current matters and give a comprehensive voice to our community."

Kelly Sotherton, an Olympic bronze medallist in the heptathlon at Athens 2004 and in the 4x400m relay at Beijing 2008, approached UK Athletics with the idea of the Commission.

It is hoped that it will provide a formal mechanism for the perspective and expertise of Great Britain’s international athletes to be heard by the Board and Performance Oversight Committee on the many initiatives and programmes operated by UK Athletics.

Providing a direct and formal link between athletes and the UK Athletics Board, it forms part of the governing body's ongoing review process.

"I’d like to congratulate Hannah on her election to chair of the Commission," Jason Gardener, a member of Britain's 4x100m relay team that won the Olympic gold medal at Athens 2004 and now the President of UK Athletics, said. 

"She is an athlete who is extremely experienced, and I’ve no doubts that the knowledge and expertise she will bring as chair will be invaluable when it comes to the Commission being impactful in the long-term."