The Australian Paralympic Committee (APC) has announced the appointment of Nick Dean as their Chef de Mission while Ashley Light has been given the role by Paralympics New Zealand (PNZ).

The announcements coincided with today marking one year to go until the start of the Winter Paralympics in South Korea. 

Dean has previously served in the role at Lillehammer 1994, Nagano 1998 and Salt Lake City 2002.

He was also Deputy Chef de Mission for a further three Winter and two Summer Games between 1992 and 2012.

This includes the Winter Games of Albertville 1992, Turin 2006 and Vancouver 2010 and the Summer Games of Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.

Dean is also a former vice-president of the APC Board, which he has served on since 1996.

"Nick is a true pioneer in Australian Paralympic winter sport, having been a founding member of disabled winter sport Australia," said APC President Glenn Tasker.

"His work ethic, his experience in managing elite teams and athletes, as well as his proven ability as a Chef de Mission make him an ideal leader of the 2018 Australian Winter Paralympic Games team.

"There’s no one with more passion for Paralympic winter sport than Nick, and we’re looking forward to seeing his skills help to shape the team for a successful Pyeongchang campaign."

Dean is set to lead a team of athletes in two sports - Alpine skiing and snowboard – with an aim to achieving a top 15 finish, a target set by the Australian Sports Commission.

In 2015, Dean was also the recipient of Australia’s highest honour in Paralympic sport for non-athletes, the Australian Paralympic Medal for his commitment to disability sport.

"We’ve won medals in alpine skiing at every Games since Albertville 1992 and I’m looking forward to being part of the team aiming to add to that record," Dean said.

"This is the epitome of four years of training, competing, setbacks, injuries, success and recovery, but it all comes down to a couple of minutes on a particular day in particular conditions in Pyeongchang in 2018.

"It’s a thrill to share the highs and lows of the ultimate competition of the best Para-athletes in the world, especially when Australia’s athletes prove themselves at the highest level."

Light, the high performance director at Snow Sports New Zealand, also occupied the role at Sochi 2014, where the team of three athletes won one medal, a silver for Corey Peters in the giant slalom sitting competition.

Light has been involved in a total of five Paralympic Games campaigns in a variety of roles, including supporting the gold medal winning wheel blacks team at Athens 2004.

"It is an absolute honour to be named as the Chef de Mission for the Pyeongchang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games," said Light.

"The outstanding results of the New Zealand Rio 2016 Paralympic Games team highlighted the importance of creating a high performance environment for the team during the Games to deliver outstanding results.

"We will focus on creating a support framework where the Para athlete’s needs will drive all Games team decision making.

"I look forward to continuing the momentum built with the Pyeongchang 2018 Paralympians and support staff."

Light is currently in Pyeongchang supporting Vancouver 2010 gold medallist Adam Hall and Peters at the final stage of the International Paralympic Committee Alpine Skiing World Cup.

The duo are enjoying an exceptional season, with Hall collecting a bronze medal and Peters winning two silvers at the 2017 World Para Alpine Skiing Championships.

Carl Murphy is also currently competing in Pyeongchang at the final leg of the IPC Snowboard World Cup.