Leonie grew up in Noam, having joined aged 10, and went on to be a movement worker and the Mazkira. She spent some time living in Israel, where the idea for the formation of the Havurah was first developed, of which she is an active member. She became Co-Chair of Masorti Judaism UK in Sept 2019, having held the Noam portfolio on the Board prior to that. She is a Lecturer in International Politics at City University of London, where she teaches and researches about civil resistance, social movements and human rights, with a focus on Israel. She lives in Leigh-on-Sea with her partner Dan, where they enjoy kayaking and swimming in the sea (aka the Thames estuary).