Alan Markey
Alan Markey is NAWRA Chair and representative for the West Midlands.
Alan is CEO of Coventry Independent Advice Service, a medium-sized social welfare charity. Alan leads the organisation and has responsibility for service strategy, quality standards, operational and financial management. He was previously Head of Specialist Support (Benefits), leading the team that provided second-tier advice and support service to all local Citizens Advice branches in England & Wales alongside the development and delivery of a national commercial training programme and support for information resources. Alan is also a former editor of ‘Adviser’ magazine, Citizens Advice flagship social welfare periodical.
He has a MSc in Charity Management from Cass Business School and a BA (Hons) in Politics and Sociology.
Alan has worked in the welfare rights advice field for over 35 years, starting his career as a volunteer with Citizens Advice in Newcastle upon Tyne. He went on to work as a Welfare Rights officer with Sunderland City Council, regularly representing former miners, shipyard workers and their families at tribunal. He was also Branch Chair of Sunderland UNISON before returning to his home town of Coventry.
He spends his spare time with music, film, travel and Sunderland football club.