Leigh Middleton is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Youth Agency (NYA), the national body for youth work in England. He has over 20 years of experience in youth work, public policy, and organisational leadership, and is a qualified youth worker with experience in both frontline and strategic roles across local authorities, voluntary organisations, and national agencies. His career reflects a long-standing commitment to empowering young people and strengthening the professional status of youth work in the UK.

As CEO of the NYA, he has overseen a significant transformation of the organisation, with a focus on workforce development, safeguarding standards, national training pathways, and the integration of youth work into education, health, and justice systems. He has played a central role in expanding the organisation’s reach through partnerships with government bodies, local councils, and youth sector organisations.

Leigh has contributed to shaping national youth policy, working on initiatives such as the Youth Work Curriculum, Youth Worker Apprenticeship Standards, and the reintroduction of statutory guidance on youth services. He is a strong advocate for increased investment in youth work and for ensuring that young people are actively involved in decision-making processes.

Internationally, he represents the NYA in forums promoting best practices in youth development and fostering collaboration through networks including the Commonwealth Youth Work Consortium and the European Youth Work Agenda.

His leadership continues to advance youth development through high-quality, professional youth work, with a strong emphasis on equity and social impact.