Leigh Gibson, of Gisborne
Leigh Gibson received a Queen's Service Medal for services to the YMCA. Mrs Gibson is the Chief Executive Officer of the Gisborne YMCA. Prior to this appointment she was a volunteer director of the board for 15 years, which included many years as President. As chief executive, she helped transform the Gisborne YMCA from an ailing organisation with two staff and run-down facilities into an expanding organisation with new facilities and 130 fulltime staff involved in early childhood education, school holiday programmes, and after school programmes. Gisborne YMCA now has three gymnasiums, in Gisborne, Kaiti and Tokomaru Bay, along with several support vehicles. Mrs Gibson has been recognised within the international YMCA movement, and she recently spoke at the World Alliance of YMCAs meeting in Cairo.