“The position of Chef de Mission is a huge honour, but also a huge responsibility.”

Kate McLoughlin has been appointed as the Australian Paralympic Committee’s (APC) Chef de Mission of the Australian Paralympic team that will compete in the Rio 2016 Games.

Currently the APC’s General Manager of Paralympic Performance, McLoughlin was the Deputy Chef de Mission of the Australian team, which finished fifth on the medal tally at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

APC President Glenn Tasker said McLoughlin will bring a wealth of planning expertise and leadership experience to the role.

“Kate’s leadership skills, work ethic and proven ability to excel in the unique and challenging environment of a Games makes her the ideal leader of the Australian team,” Tasker said.

“Kate was heavily involved in Australia’s success at both the London 2012 and Sochi 2014 Paralympic Games. She knows exactly what is needed to deliver a comprehensive Games campaign where nothing is left to chance, and the APC board is confident in Kate’s ability to drive an outstanding Rio campaign.”

With two sports – para-canoe and para-triathlon – making their Paralympic debut in Rio, McLoughlin is set to lead almost 400 athletes and officials across 16 sports, the largest Australian Paralympic team to compete at a Paralympic Games overseas.

“The position of Chef de Mission is a huge honour, but also a huge responsibility,” McLoughlin said.

“To provide our Paralympic athletes with an optimal performance environment, as well as the best overall Games experience, is a core responsibility of the APC which I am absolutely dedicated to achieving,” McLoughlin said.

“The APC, our athletes, officials and support staff have one common goal and that’s to unite as a team within a supportive culture that breeds success.

“We’re currently 16 months out from Rio and our team is already shaping up to be a strong one. The Australian Sports Commission’s Sports Tally results released recently were encouraging, and although a top-five finish is ambitious, I’m sure this team won’t take a backwards step in trying to meet the challenges ahead.”

With the Seven Network set to provide unprecedented coverage of the Rio Paralympic Games across its television channels and digital platforms, McLoughlin said the move is an opportunity to “reach a new audience” and “hopes to take full advantage of it.”

“Having spoken to many of our athletes in recent weeks, they are already excited about marching in the Opening Ceremony at Maracana Stadium, with more Australians viewers set to tune in than ever before,” she said.

McLoughlin steps into the Chef de Mission role vacated by former APC Chief Executive Jason Hellwig, who recently stepped down from both roles.