Born and brought up in the Lozells neighbourhood in Birmingham, the area he represents, Councillor Waseem Zaffar 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.

In May 2018, Councillor Zaffar was appointed 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.

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.

He lives in Lozells with his family, in the house where he was born; is a Governor of the primary school he attended; is a member of Unite the Union; and is a lifelong (yet still optimistic) Aston Villa fan and enjoys spending summer weekends playing cricket.