FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura has been appointed as an independent member of the FIA Senate, the highest body of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) which oversees the management and finances of the federation. The voluntary role, will see her utilise her experience in reform, good governance, encouraging diversity and gender equality in the Senate, which brings together the sport and mobility pillars of the FIA and handles issues relating to management and general policy of the federation. Fatma Samoura brings 21 years of high-level experience with the World Food Program and other United Nations programs in Africa, Central America, Central West Asia, and Europe to the FIA Senate. In 2016, she became the first African, and woman in the organization’s history to hold the position of Secretary General at FIFA.

As FIFA Secretary General, Fatma Samoura has led strategic efforts to increase the number of women employed by FIFA in senior management and other roles and to double the number of female football players in the world by 2026. She also served as FIFA’s General Delegate for Africa for six months (1 August 2019 to 31 January 2020) to help accelerate the implementation of the Confederation of African Football’s reform process, which focused on good governance, organization of competitions, and the growth and development of African football. Speaking about become a member of the FIA Senate Fatma Samoura said: “I’m honoured to have been appointed as an independent member of the FIA Senate by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem. I look forward to working with him and the other members of the Senate to shape a progressive, inclusive and sustainable future for the FIA and its stakeholders.” FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem stated: “I am delighted to welcome Fatma Samoura to the FIA Senate. Her experience at the highest levels of global football and her outstanding 21-year career as UN humanitarian will bring new perspectives, ideas and energy to the important work of the Senate.”