Leigh joined the NYA in 2017, having worked with young people for over twenty years. During that time, he’s been both a detached and open access youth worker, as well as working in schools and community settings. 

Leigh is a youth sector commissioning specialist and led the way in developing new models of delivery for youth work in local communities in Surrey. This included exploring social investment models and public sector mutual opportunities.

Leigh is both JNC qualified, holds a PGCE and has nearly finished his Masters in Public Administration. Leigh started working with young people when he was 15 and has a huge passion for experiential learning and development of young people – he particularly champions authentic youth voice and participation and quality assurance of youth work practice.

In 2024 Leigh was awarded an OBE for Services to young people.

As Director of Youth Work, Abbee McLatchie leads on the development of professional standards; training and development; the National Youth Work Curriculum; as well as quality and safeguarding frameworks.

Abbee has worked with young people through youth work since the 1990s in a range of environments from social care, to housing and homelessness services. She is particularly passionate about creating more access to identity and issue-based youth work that allows young people to use lived experiences to create social change for themselves and others.  

As Chief Finance Officer Susan is responsible for overseeing the financial health and integrity of NYA. She also leads a team covering governance, digital & cyber security and growth (inc. income generation).

Susan is a CIMA qualified accountant with significant experience including senior roles with London Sport, Save the Children and Restless Development. She is passionate about empowering others and ensuring that her work adds tangible value to NYA to make a positive difference in young people’s lives.

Away from the office you are likely to find Susan either playing, watching or reading about sport!

As Chief Operating Officer, Esther oversees the day to day running of NYA ensuring that every aspect of our work furthers our mission to support and empower young people. Esther supports a number of our teams, including Programmes and Operations, Policy, Insight and Public Affairs, Youth Voice and HR.

Esther has twenty years of operations experience, both in the commercial and charitable sectors leading large, geographically diverse teams. Following an early career as a criminal defence solicitor, Esther continues to play a part in the justice sector as a Magistrate in her local area. Esther has also held a number of Trustee and Non-Executive Director roles.

Away from work, Esther pursues her interest in the heroic age of polar exploration through reading, seminars and travel.

Barry is a member of the leadership directorate and manages a talented team of professionals to deliver NYA’s national programmes and training. Barry oversees operational efficiency and performance, implementing infrastructure capabilities that enable staff to make the greatest impact possible for the youth sector, and ultimately young people.  

The driving force behind Barry’s career for over twenty years has been breaking the cycle of inequality faced by many young people. Since working at NYA Barry has been able to channel this passion by mobilising several of our prominent programmes including the Youth Investment Fund, the Safeguarding and Risk Management Hub and Routes to Community Success. Barry believes that talented people with aligned values can achieve extraordinary outcomes.

Matt Davis is Director of Growth at the National Youth Agency, leading Business Development, the NYA Academy and Digital Youth Work. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, he is responsible for strategic partnerships, organisational growth and innovation, working with government, employers, funders and sector partners to strengthen the Agency and expand opportunities for young people.

With more than 20 years’ experience in the voluntary sector, Matt has built strategic partnerships, secured investment and established new teams, services and initiatives that have strengthened organisations and increased their impact. He is particularly interested in helping organisations adapt, grow and create new opportunities for the people and communities they serve.

As Interim Director of PSRB, Paul is leading the development of the Professional, Statutory and Regulatory activities of the NYA as it relates to workforce, safeguarding, practice standards and sector leadership for Youth Work.

Paul is an experienced youth and community work professional and brings over 30 years of experience as an organisational leader, academic and consultant in the youth work sector.

Away from the office, you may find Paul out for a run (not always as fast as he would like) and compensating by ‘researching’ good quality red wine.

Leigh joined the NYA in 2017, having worked with young people for over twenty years. During that time, he’s been both a detached and open access youth worker, as well as working in schools and community settings. 

Leigh is a youth sector commissioning specialist and led the way in developing new models of delivery for youth work in local communities in Surrey. This included exploring social investment models and public sector mutual opportunities.

Leigh is both JNC qualified, holds a PGCE and has nearly finished his Masters in Public Administration. Leigh started working with young people when he was 15 and has a huge passion for experiential learning and development of young people – he particularly champions authentic youth voice and participation and quality assurance of youth work practice.

In 2024 Leigh was awarded an OBE for Services to young people.

As Director of Youth Work, Abbee McLatchie leads on the development of professional standards; training and development; the National Youth Work Curriculum; as well as quality and safeguarding frameworks.

Abbee has worked with young people through youth work since the 1990s in a range of environments from social care, to housing and homelessness services. She is particularly passionate about creating more access to identity and issue-based youth work that allows young people to use lived experiences to create social change for themselves and others.  

As Chief Finance Officer Susan is responsible for overseeing the financial health and integrity of NYA. She also leads a team covering governance, digital & cyber security and growth (inc. income generation).

Susan is a CIMA qualified accountant with significant experience including senior roles with London Sport, Save the Children and Restless Development. She is passionate about empowering others and ensuring that her work adds tangible value to NYA to make a positive difference in young people’s lives.

Away from the office you are likely to find Susan either playing, watching or reading about sport!

As Chief Operating Officer, Esther oversees the day to day running of NYA ensuring that every aspect of our work furthers our mission to support and empower young people. Esther supports a number of our teams, including Programmes and Operations, Policy, Insight and Public Affairs, Youth Voice and HR.

Esther has twenty years of operations experience, both in the commercial and charitable sectors leading large, geographically diverse teams. Following an early career as a criminal defence solicitor, Esther continues to play a part in the justice sector as a Magistrate in her local area. Esther has also held a number of Trustee and Non-Executive Director roles.

Away from work, Esther pursues her interest in the heroic age of polar exploration through reading, seminars and travel.

Barry is a member of the leadership directorate and manages a talented team of professionals to deliver NYA’s national programmes and training. Barry oversees operational efficiency and performance, implementing infrastructure capabilities that enable staff to make the greatest impact possible for the youth sector, and ultimately young people.  

The driving force behind Barry’s career for over twenty years has been breaking the cycle of inequality faced by many young people. Since working at NYA Barry has been able to channel this passion by mobilising several of our prominent programmes including the Youth Investment Fund, the Safeguarding and Risk Management Hub and Routes to Community Success. Barry believes that talented people with aligned values can achieve extraordinary outcomes.

Matt Davis is Director of Growth at the National Youth Agency, leading Business Development, the NYA Academy and Digital Youth Work. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, he is responsible for strategic partnerships, organisational growth and innovation, working with government, employers, funders and sector partners to strengthen the Agency and expand opportunities for young people.

With more than 20 years’ experience in the voluntary sector, Matt has built strategic partnerships, secured investment and established new teams, services and initiatives that have strengthened organisations and increased their impact. He is particularly interested in helping organisations adapt, grow and create new opportunities for the people and communities they serve.

As Interim Director of PSRB, Paul is leading the development of the Professional, Statutory and Regulatory activities of the NYA as it relates to workforce, safeguarding, practice standards and sector leadership for Youth Work.

Paul is an experienced youth and community work professional and brings over 30 years of experience as an organisational leader, academic and consultant in the youth work sector.

Away from the office, you may find Paul out for a run (not always as fast as he would like) and compensating by ‘researching’ good quality red wine.