For Richard Leafe, the Lake District is both his workplace and his playground.


Over the last 17 years he has become well known in Cumbria and beyond as chief executive of the Lake District National Park Authority and, when he’s not at work, he can usually be found running somewhere in its fells.
In fact, he says there are lessons he has learned in the mountains which can also be applied to his job. “To achieve your objectives you need a bit of planning and you need a bit of risk management and risk management is about being aware of things that happen on the way and changing your plans,” he said. “I think a lot of the skill of being safe in the mountains is about listening to your gut and how you’re feeling.”
Since he became chief executive of the authority in 2007, Richard has tried to balance his own ambitions with those of his colleagues, as well as the many businesses and residents whose lives and livelihoods are intertwined with the park.

However, at 59, this year is his last in the role before he stands down to pursue his love of the fells as a mountain leader.

It is a love affair which first began during trips to the Peak District with his parents from their home in suburban Nottingham.

He continued to catch the outdoor bug at school, taking part in geography field trips and the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.
Inspired by his experiences, Richard studied geography at the University of Sheffield before beginning work at the Nature Conservancy Council - now Natural England.

He rose through the managerial ranks, with roles including European policy officer and finally regional director for Natural England North West.
All of these jobs gave him a good grounding in one of the major themes of his career, namely understanding a landscape and environment and seeking to balance the needs of those who have an interest in it.

This is a challenge which continued when he was appointed chief executive of the Lake District National Park Authority, preceded by Graham Essex-Crosby, who was interim successor to Paul Tiplady, who filled the position for eight years.

The appointment put him at the centre of an organisation charged with understanding and weighing the needs and desires of a current resident population of 40,000 and 18 million annual visitors.