Bond, who helped Australia’s wheelchair rugby team win gold at London 2012 and Rio 2016, joins the DSA Board along with experienced corporate lawyer Ilona Alsters.

John Croll, executive chairman of DSA, was delighted with the double appointment as the national body aims to represent athletes with a physical disability.

"I am really excited to welcome Ilona and Chris to the DSA Board," Croll said.

"We have a very strong Board with a diverse set of skills that is working with management to deliver an exciting strategy that delivers improved sporting and participation opportunities for Australians with a disability."

Bond has been a member of the Australian wheelchair rugby team since 2011, winning the 2014 World Wheelchair Rugby Championships in Odense as well as gold medals at two Paralympic Games.

For the past five years, he has worked as a partnership manager with the Australian Sports Foundation and is currently a member of Sport Integrity Australia’s athlete advisory group.

Bond said he was looking forward to bringing an athlete's perspective to DSA and "helping shape the organisation to ensure all Australians with a disability have access to sport and live an active lifestyle".

Alsters is understood to have more than 20 years of experience as a corporate lawyer and is currently the general counsel and company secretary for pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim in Australia and New Zealand.  

She has also been chair and non-executive director of Karting New South Wales since 2017 as well as the President and non-executive director of packaging firm Hoxton Industries Limited for the past two years.

 "I’m very excited to join the Board of DSA and look forward to further the promotion and independence of Australians with a disability to get more active more often," Alsters said.