Dame Valerie Adams and Dame Noeline Taurua are among four new members appointed to the High Performance Sport NZ (HPSNZ) board.
Dames Adams and Taurua are joined by former Paralympic swimmer Duane Kale, and former Black Sox player and coach Don Tricker to complete the full 10-member complement.
All four bring experience of international competition, as HPSNZ board chair Bill Moran cites their collective experience in aiding the organisation moving forward.
Dame Valerie in particular joins after retiring from competition earlier in 2022, leaving shot put with four Olympic medals - two of them gold - as one of New Zealand's most prolific athletes.
"I'm looking forward to contributing to help shape the best possible environment for our athletes to have a strong voice, and to thrive on the world stage," the 37-year-old said.
"I hope I can make a difference by bringing new perspective and sharing personal experience of the pressures that can be experienced in the high-performance environment, as we continue to build a better future for all those involved whether it be our athletes, coaches or staff."
Meanwhile, HPSNZ has acknowledged Dame Noeline's position as current Silver Ferns coach will see her step aside from the role as and when appropriate, in order to avoid potential conflict of interest.
"I have experienced sporting life from grassroots through to high performance, both as a former athlete and as the current coach of a national team," she said.
"I am passionate about a high-performance system that recognises and acknowledges the unique challenges that each sport faces.
"It is crucial that the high-performance system is integrated and streamlined and that it continues to grow, prepare and support world-class people to compete on the world stage."
