Raised and educated in Norwich, Alan Waters is a history graduate and qualified teacher. He has worked as a teacher and senior manager at comprehensive schools in London, Australia and Norfolk, including as an Associate Tutor at the Department of Education and Life-long learning (UEA). Latterly, Alan went on to work at the Local Government Information Unit as a Learning and Development Manager.
Alan Waters was an elected member of Norwich City Council for over 30 years, serving in senior positions on the council, including 13 years as council leader (1993-1998 and 2015-2023). Other roles have included membership of the South East Board of the Arts Council England and a deputy leader of the Key Cities Group. He was on the management board of the East of England Local Government Association and a board member of the New Anglia LEP and the Norwich BID. Since 2018 he has been a Visiting Fellow at South Bank University and a Board member of the Journal “Local Economy”.
Since leaving Norwich City Council in 2023, Alan is working with a number of cultural organisations in the city. As a way of addressing poverty and low pay in Norwich, he is a member of the Norwich Real Living Wage campaign group.
He says: “It is clear that the Business in the Community focus on North Earlham is already delivering significant improvements and a growing recognition by residents that there is a serious commitment to improving their lives.”