Leslie Hannay is Landesa’s Sr. Land Tenure Specialist, Corporate Engagement based in Seattle, Washington. Leslie began working for Landesa in 2011 and re-joined in 2022.

What brought you to Landesa?

At the end of law school, I was looking for a way to continue my work on human rights issues related to natural resources and environmental protection. Landesa had a 2-year fellowship program at that time, and I was fortunate to join Landesa as a Women’s Land Rights Fellow.

What are your core responsibilities?

I love the variety of projects and issues my role on the Corporate Engagement team offers. In this role, I work to understand barriers to socially inclusive and responsible land-based investment through research, and develop and test tools and approaches to overcome those barriers. These approaches also consider national laws and international standards, the gender and social dynamics of customary and community land tenure, and opportunities to leverage private sector and government policies and practices. I work with Landesa’s partners to integrate all of these pieces to advance the rights and well-being of rural men and women.

What is the most rewarding part of your work at Landesa?

At Landesa, we take on some of the toughest and most persistent global problems by developing solutions based on legal and social analysis and engagement with communities, governments, the private sector, and others. I find it rewarding to work with such diverse stakeholders to find solutions that benefit rural communities.

How do you spend your time when you’re not working?

Hiking, running, riding my bike, reading, baking elaborate desserts, playing drums, having adventures.

Describe your vision for a better world.

I want a world that prioritizes people and the planet over profits, where women and men can live without discrimination, and communities are healthy, empowered, and prosperous.