Biography

Zaffar Van Kalwala was born and brought up in Brent, attending his local school before going onto to university to read politics and history as well as attaining a HNC in Business. 

Zaffar was first elected to the Council in 2007 making him at the time, one of the country’s youngest councillors. Following the 2010 Local Elections, Zaffar was appointed Chair of the council’s Partnership and Place Committee which looks at how Brent work’s with its national/local partners to deliver services. He also serves on the council’s Budget and Finance Committee, One-Council Committee and the Audit Committee. Zaffar is also a school governor at Mitchell Brook Primary School, Stonebridge.

Current areas of interest include focusing on youth issues, crime and community safety and developing the local economy. Zaffar is also the council’s delegate to the Park Royal Partnership (PRP) which looks at promoting the economic and environmental sustainability of Park Royal (Europe’s largest industrial estate).

Zaffar has always been active locally including serving on Brent’s Youth Council where he was awarded the Millennium Fellowship for his community work. Through the fellowship, he went to Israel and Palestine to review the Middle-East process where he met with Israeli and Palestinian officials along with community groups and NGOs. 

Zaffar currently works for an Investment Bank in the City. Prior to his present role, Zaffar worked in Local Government and for the Department for International Development where he worked on government initiatives to combat poverty in developing countries.

Outside of politics, Zaffar tries to keep-fit by attending his local boxing club in Stonebridge as well as playing football and supporting his favourite football team Liverpool.