Fatma Samoura, the first woman and African to be appointed secretary general of FIFA, will deliver the keynote address at this year’s Soccerex Global Convention.

The United Nations veteran of two decades took the high profile position shortly after the election of president Gianni Infantino. She replaced Jerome Valcke who had been banned from football-related activities.

Samoura will address delegates during the September conference in Manchester, updating the industry on the future plans of FIFA. She will also present the inaugural FIFA Diversity Awards on the first day of the convention.

This year’s Soccerex will also offer a platform for Javier Martinez, Atletico Madrid’s managing director of global business development, who will lift the lid on the Spanish club’s new stadium project.

In addition, Tom Byer – the Chinese Football Association’s technical director – will give a talk where he will present the technical initiatives he has developed for youth players in China – a nation becoming increasingly involved in the sport.