It is hoped the Commission 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 UKA.

Providing a direct and formal link between athletes and the UKA Board, it forms part of UKA’s ongoing review process.

Sotherton, an Olympic bronze medallist in the heptathlon at Athens 2004 and in the 4x400 metres relay at Beijing 2008, approached UKA with the idea of the Commission.

"I have always passionately believed that, as athletes, we need a formal voice and role in the ongoing future development of our sport," said the 40-year-old, who was elected to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Women’s Committee at the world governing body’s Congress in Beijing in August 2015.

"I’m pleased UKA were open to this idea and that we have been able to work together to create a platform that allows athletes to provide effective input into decision-making at all levels of the organisation.

"I think UKA and athletics as a whole will really benefit from the unique insights and perspective delivered by the athletes and I look forward to seeing its work come to fruition in the years to come."

The Commission will aim to ensure that athletes possess a voice on matters that are heard at Board level.

In turn, another aim is that it will allow the UKA Board to hear from international athletes during its deliberations and decision-making processes.

It is also expected that Commission will be able to bring matters to the Performance Oversight Committee for discussion and recommendation.

"Kelly came to us with the idea of this commission after she joined the IAAF commission in Beijing, with the end goal of having the athletes’ voice at the heart of everything UKA does," UKA chief executive Niels de Vos said.

"As such, we have worked with her to develop a meaningful Commission that we feel will add real value to UKA and the wider governance of athletics, as we look to develop the sport over the next decade."

UKA President Jason Gardener added: "This was an idea that had to come from an athlete, so I am glad Kelly took up the challenge.

"I believe that this Commission will provide athletes with a fantastic opportunity to help shape the way that UKA is committed to be athlete centred.

"I’m excited at seeing the positive difference athletes can make to the governance of our sport, which includes ensuring that the interest of the athletes remains at the forefront of UKA’s aims and objectives."

Membership criteria will see 12 people on the Commission.

It has been decided that members of the Commission will be evenly between men and women, able-bodied and Paralympic athletes and current international athletes who have competed for Britain in the previous 12 months.

Furthermore, the Commission will have at least 15 per cent of members from non-Olympic and Paralympic events, and have no more than two athletes from any one event.

The make-up will also be representative of the British athletics team in terms of Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME).

The process for inviting the submitting of nominations for this year's elections is due to begin on April 3 and end at noon on May 5.

Election ballot papers and instructions are scheduled to be issued on May 15, with the election ballot closing at noon on June 16.

The announcement of elections' outcome is set for June 23.

Any athlete who has competed for a British Athletics team within the past six years and are over the age of 18 will be eligible to nominate themselves for election as a Commission member on condition they meet four criteria.

They must have evidence of their commitment to fulfilling the objects and representing the values of UKA and evidence of skills and competencies required for the fulfilment of the duties of Commission member.

If elected, membership rules state that there must be "no reason" to believe that the candidate would bring UKA into disrepute and the athlete must not have served a ban from sport.