Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Zafar Iqbal MBE
Councillor Zafar Iqbal embodies the spirit of a true adopted Brummie, so much so that he is a passionate supporter of Birmingham City Football Club.
His deep connection to the city spans over 50 years, having arrived as a child from the small village of Boha, Chakswari in Mirpur Azad Kashmir. Since then, Birmingham has influenced and shaped his life, being the place where he built his career and raised his family.
Upon his arrival in the United Kingdom, one of the Lord Mayor’s initial tasks was to master the English language. Through 6 months of dedicated and intensive learning, he prepared himself for the Birmingham education system. Despite facing the significant hurdle of acute dyslexia, a condition that was less understood at the time, he started his formal education at Bordesley Green Boys School. This personal experience has profoundly shaped the Lord Mayor, making him a passionate advocate for the benefits of a good education and instilling in him a firm conviction of its value to everyone. His learning difficulties necessitated a far greater personal investment of time and effort compared to his peers. Undeterred, the Lord Mayor pursued his education through night school, ultimately achieving a national management qualification and a Diploma in Health and Social Care.
The Lord Mayor has been happily married to the Lady Mayoress, Farooq Akhtar, since 1980, this year marking their remarkable 45th wedding anniversary. Their enduring marriage has been blessed with two daughters, Salma and Atiya, and a son, Umar. Salma has progressed to become a senior manager within a national retail chain, while Atiya brings her skills to a national event company. Umar also works for a national retail chain. Adding to thier joy, they are now a proud grandparents to two wonderful grandchildren, Ibrahim and Aysia.
Like many of his generation, the Lord Mayor went directly from school to his first job as a labourer. Over the years, his work experiences have been diverse, including a role as an assembly worker at Land Rover. Most significantly, the Lord Mayor also worked for social services, delivering meals on wheels, which marked the beginning of his long-standing commitment to helping and supporting others, also working as a full-time carer. His last professional role before fully dedicating himself to public service as a Ward Councillor was as a Community Worker for Birmingham Focus, where he supported individuals with visual impairments.
The Lord Mayor possesses a substantial and impressive track record of community involvement, consistently working for the betterment of others. He has served as a Governor at numerous schools, and his expertise and capabilities led to his appointment by the Secretary of State as a special governor to a Birmingham school facing challenges. A cause particularly close to his heart is the Birmingham Dyslexia Association, where he has served as a trustee.
Beyond his formal roles, the Lord Mayor has actively engaged in fundraising for numerous good causes. His dedication has seen him undertake incredibly challenging feats for the benefit of various organisations. He has walked the Great Wall of China in support of Action Aid; and in 2007 he tackled the high-altitude Inca Trail to raise vital funds for Focus Birmingham. Neither of these endeavours were undertaken lightly, requiring significant and dedicated training to complete.
In 2007, the Lord Mayor was appointed as a Magistrate at Solihull Courts, where he has been able to apply his extensive experience and strong sense of fairness. He was deeply honoured in 2009 to receive an MBE from the late Queen Elizabeth II, an award recognising his significant services to education.
The Lord Mayor is profoundly delighted and honoured to have been chosen as the first citizen of this remarkable city. He eagerly anticipates the opportunity to promote Birmingham and showcase its many outstanding qualities and offerings.
Elected as a councillor in 2012, he has served diligently as a member of numerous committees. Notably, he chaired the Culture Learning and Skills Overview and Scrutiny Committee, as well as the Birmingham Economy & Jobs Overview and Scrutiny Committee. He has also held the significant roles of Lead Member and Vice Chair of the West Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority.
Having personally experienced the challenges of arriving in a new country unable to speak the language, along with the frustrations of his learning difficulties, the Lord Mayor has consistently been a strong advocate for those who require additional support to navigate the world. This personal journey has instilled in him a deep conviction that no individual should be disadvantaged or held back simply because they need a little more support or, often, just a greater degree of understanding. The Lord Mayor himself arrived in Birmingham unable to read and write. Yet, through his dedication and perseverance in this great city, he has risen from those initial challenges to become the first citizen of Birmingham. He is resolutely determined to ensure that the progress he has achieved will be a less arduous journey for others than it was for him.
Interests: Lifelong Blues supporter and enjoys cricket. He is a fan of live comedy and likes live music having recently seen Elton John, Tom Jones and Eric Clapton.
Dietary requirements: Halal and vegetarian, no alcohol.
Page last updated: 22 May 2025
