Leah Gates was appointed Chief Operating Officer of the Auckland Business Chamber in 2025. She continues to lead the Chamber’s Employment division and oversees government relations, major projects, training, and a dedicated team that has helped more than 28,000 individuals transition into employment over her 20-year tenure. Leah is widely respected as an expert in youth employability and brings deep experience and strong networks across both the job seeker and employer landscapes.
The Auckland Business Chamber connects businesses with people through inclusive employment services, supporting youth, the unemployed, migrants, people with disabilities, Māori and Pacific communities, and high school students to become work-ready and matched with the right employers. Their values are rooted in recognising potential, offering support with respect and aroha, and understanding the whole person.
A key barrier to employment—access to driver licences and reliable transport—is being addressed through Chamber Drive, now the largest provider of driver licence training in Auckland.
Prior to her work at the Chamber, Leah owned a PTE and web development company delivering Microsoft and A+ Certification programmes. Raised across the Pacific Islands and educated in Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, and at the University of the South Pacific in Suva, Leah holds a strong affinity with Pacific communities and is driven by a lifelong commitment to empowering people through employment.