Stephanie Burras is the founder and Chief Executive of Leeds Ahead, a social enterprise that furthers social and economic wellbeing in Leeds and the surrounding region by enabling the public, private and third sectors to work together in very practical ways.

A graduate in languages, Stephanie qualified as a commercial solicitor, starting out in the City before moving to Leeds and becoming a partner in international law firm Pinsent Masons.  She dual-qualified as a lawyer in Germany in 2000 and also as a professional translator. 

Stephanie left the law in 2004, set up Leeds Ahead as a new-start business and has since grown it to a team of 13. The team mobilises the voluntary resources of hundreds of different businesses and employers in the public and private sectors each year. Leeds Ahead acts as the vital link and catalyst to practical action, supporting business growth and new-starts, improving educational achievement, tackling the causes of economic inactivity and strengthening local neighbourhoods and communities.

In 2009 Leeds Ahead won a Green Flag for Leeds from the Audit Commission in recognition of its innovative approach nationally.

Over the past 5 years, this innovative approach has also earned Leeds Ahead numerous regional awards and accolades.

Stephanie sits on Leeds Initiative's Economy and Skills Partnership, the Board of Leeds Enterprise Centre at Leeds University, the board of Leeds Law Society and is a trustee at St George's Crypt, a Leeds-based charity that supports the homeless.

In 2011 Stephanie was appointed to the Board of the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). Stephanie is one of the nine private sector representatives appointed to the board.

stephanie.burras@leedsahead.org.uk