Leanda is a retired Army Officer, formally the Commander Regional Recruiting North West.
When Army recruiting was outsourced to Capita, in 2013 Leanda became Head of Regional Recruiting Operations for the North of England, she was eventually responsible for Army recruiting operations for Scotland, Northern Ireland and the North of England.
Leanda retired from Capita in September 2023.
She is a Vice Chair Military for the North West and Isle of Man Reserve Forces and Cadets Association and a Trustee for the Stretford Road Trust which provides financial support for Army Reserve units based in the County Palatine of Lancaster.
She was awarded a Territorial Decoration in 1998, appointed a Deputy Lieutenant for Greater Manchester in 2004 and awarded an OBE in Her Majesty’s New Years Honours list in 2009.
Once a keen sportswoman she now prefers to watch from the side-line, she is an avid Manchester United supporter and season ticket holder.