Currently head of sport at ParalympicsGB, Smith has attended seven Paralympics and was deputy Chef de Mission for the team at Pyeongchang 2018 and for the delayed Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.

He will also be deputy Chef de Mission to the British team at Paris 2024 Paralympics.

Smith's leadership before and during Beijing 2022, encompassing the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the fall-out of Russia's conflict with Ukraine which began just days before the last Winter Games began, were recognised last year when he was awarded UK Sport's PLx Award for Spirit of High Performance.

"It is a huge honour to be given the opportunity to lead the ParalympicsGB team to the Paralympic Winter Games in 2026," said Smith.

"Working with the team in the build-up to and during Beijing 2022 was an immense privilege and I am thrilled to have the chance to perform this role once again with such an incredible group of athletes and support staff.

"British performances at recent Winter Games have been outstanding and we are becoming an ever more competitive winter sports nation.

"As a team we will do everything we can to ensure all ParalympicsGB athletes and staff have the tools and support to perform at their very best when competition gets underway at Milan Cortina 2026."

David Clarke OBE, the ParalympicsGB chief executive, added: "I’m delighted that Phil will lead ParalympicsGB as Chef de Mission to the team for Milan Cortina 2026.

"Phil’s superb leadership skills were abundantly clear in Beijing last year and I know he will do all he can to not only ensure we take a best-prepared team to the Games and be world-leading on and off the field of play, but to help deliver on our wider ambitions to drive for a more inclusive environment for disabled people in the UK, in sport and across wider society."

The Milan Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games are due to take place from March 6 to 15.