Robin Wales - Definition

Sir Robin Wales is a leading figure in local government in London and a Labour Party politician.

Wales comes from Kilmarnock and was educated at Glasgow University. He formerly worked at British Telecom. He has extensive experience of working in IT and customer services.

Having moved to London in 1978, he was a councillor from 1982 to 1986 and then from 1992 to 2002 in the London Borough of Newham. He was elected Mayor of Newham in 2002, after seven years as borough leader, the first Labour directly-elected Mayor in the country.

Sir Robin Wales has been Chair of the Association of London Government since 2000. He is a member of the London 2012 board, steering London's bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

He was awarded a Knighthood in the 2000 Birthday Honours List in recognition of his service to local government. He has two children.