Ian Chesterman will fill the shoes of long-time sporting powerbroker John Coates, with the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) president elected as an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member.
Chesterman was one of eight new members voted in at the IOC session in Paris on Wednesday.
His membership is linked to AOC presidency and starts on January 1, 2025, with current IOC vice president and former AOC boss Coates completing his final term at the same time.
Tasmania-based Chesterman has been the Australia team's chef de mission at six Olympic Winter Games as well as at Tokyo 2020.
He has served on the executive of the AOC since 2001, and was vice president from 2016 until succeeding Coates as president in 2022.
He is also vice president of the Brisbane 3032 organising committee.
Becoming the 13th Australian to join the international body, Chesterman said his experience across so many different aspects of the Olympics meant he could offer a unique perspective to the IOC.
"It's something I've obviously got a long history with, it's something I'm obviously very passionate about and so for me to have the opportunity to continue to make a contribution not just in Australia but now also internationally is something I'm really pleased has happened," Chesterman said.
""It's important for the IOC to have a representative in Australia going forward.
"We've got our home games in Brisbane 2032 which is an exciting opportunity for Australia but also the IOC, so also the opportunity to work on that and continue to push those Games forward, to make those the best that they can be is something I'm also really passionate about."
Chesterman hopes he will be joined on the IOC by one of Australia's flag-bearers, Jessica Fox.
Competing in her fourth Olympics, the slalom canoe gold medallist has nominated to join the IOC's Athletes' Commission for an eight-year term.
With 29 candidates standing, there are four spots available with voting among athletes closing on August 6, with the new members announced a day later.
"I'm very hopeful that Jess Fox, standing for election for IOC Athletes Commission, will be elected," Chesterman said.
"I think she'll have good support internationally; she'll obviously have good support amongst the Australian athletes."
Coates won't be lost to the international Olympic movement, voted in as an IOC honorary member at the session on Wednesday.
