Leigh McFarlane brings extensive expertise in safeguarding leadership and organisational culture, developed over three decades of work across statutory, voluntary, academic, and faith-based contexts. She is widely respected for her work in safeguarding research, policy development, public advocacy, survivor-centred practice, and frontline safeguarding delivery. Leigh is recognised for her ability to navigate complex ethical, regulatory, and organisational challenges, translating them into clear, actionable solutions that support leaders, boards, and practitioners to build safer, healthier cultures in which safeguarding is a lived practice rather than a compliance exercise.

Leigh holds a Master’s degree in Safeguarding in the International Context (with distinction) and has co-authored research on safeguarding co-production in international faith-based contexts and abuse in religious communities. She has contributed her expertise to a range of strategic and advisory groups, including cross-party and parliamentary forums, government steering groups, charity boards, and church leadership teams. Through this work, Leigh has helped shape safeguarding policy and practice at Westminster, Holyrood, and Stormont.

Through Kaizen Safeguarding, Leigh provides specialist consultancy to organisations seeking to strengthen their safeguarding culture and capability. Her work includes safeguarding audits and reviews, organisational restructuring, past-case and learning reviews, and risk assessments relating to complex or ongoing concerns. She also offers crisis response support, professional advice consultations, and the development and review of safeguarding policies and procedures. Leigh’s approach is practical, trauma-informed, and collaborative; supporting organisations to build confidence, clarity, and sustainable safeguarding practice.

Leigh regularly contributes to safeguarding events and conferences across the UK and Ireland, speaking within faith, education, and charity contexts. She has delivered bespoke safeguarding training to both national and international organisations and provides Safeguarding Associate services to UK-based bodies.

Alongside her safeguarding leadership, Leigh brings extensive experience across faith, education, and the charity sector. She is a qualified SEN, pastoral, and geography teacher, having held management roles within school guidance systems, and has worked as a youth counsellor and NGO/charity debriefer. She remains actively involved in grassroots community volunteering with children and young people, including those with additional needs. Leigh also serves as a safeguarding lead within a multi-site faith organisation and is a trustee with the Charity for Action on Spiritual Abuse.

Her vision is clear: a culture of safeguarding excellence in every organisation—where every person is safe, and every person is brave.