The CEO of Early Years Alliance, Neil Leitch, followed a career in finance by volunteering his skills to what was then the Pre-school Learning Alliance. Finding its ethos and dedication to the lives of young children chimed deeply with his values, Neil came out of semi-retirement to join the Alliance full-time and in 2008, became its CEO. He has been an unwavering leader of the largest early years membership organisation in the country, fronting campaigns on funding and the mental health of the workforce. He has provided evidence to multiple government inquiries, and was key in developing the two-year-old early entitlement offer and remains a powerful voice for the sector.