Born and brought up in the Lozells neighbourhood in Birmingham, the area he represents, Councillor Waseem Zaffar is the Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment at Birmingham City Council.
This brings together the responsibilities for: sustainable transport policy and strategy to improve connectivity and safety across all modes of travel; while working with partners to develop liveability and environmental improvement for Birmingham. Waseem serves as a Director of Birmingham International Airport, West Side Business Improvement District and the Trent Regional Flood and Coastal Committee.
Waseem was for many years a local magistrate, as well as the CEO of a local not-for-profit organisation and has had his community work recognised by a number of awards including an MBE for services to the voluntary sector.
Waseem has previously served as the Birmingham City Council Cabinet Member for Transparency, Openness and Equality as well as being the Chairman of a number of committees during his time at Birmingham City Council.
He is also a Non-Executive Director at the Sandwell & West Birmingham NHS Trust which includes City Hospital where he was born. At the Trust, he chairs the Charity Funds Committee.
Waseem also serves as a School Governor at Heathfield Primary School, which he attended as a child and his eldest son attends today.
Waseem’s work has focussed on successfully bringing people together, from different faith groups to large corporations, local schools and grass root projects to improve their local communities.
Waseem also worked with partners to develop a sports complex, now managed by the community via a community asset transfer, and has led projects to raise awareness, prevent and treat diabetes and TB.
Always a proud Brummie, Waseem developed the successful Birmingham Heritage Week which has just completed its third year. The projects promotes the Birmingham story over many years and the learning, achievements and contributions of the communities that have come, gone and stayed in diverse Birmingham.
He chairs the steering group that has delivered over 500 events as well as a launch event in Parliament, celebrating the contributions of Brummies locally, nationally and internationally.
He lives in Lozells in the house he was born into with his family, is a Governor of the primary school he attended, member of Unite the Union, a lifelong (yet still optimistic) Aston Villa fan and enjoys spending summer weekends playing cricket.