Leanne Wood AM (born 13 December 1971) is a Welsh politician and the leader of Plaid Cymru.
Born in the Rhondda, Wales, she has represented the South Wales Central region as a Member of the National Assembly for Wales since 2003. She was elected leader of Plaid Cymru on 15 March 2012.
Wood, a socialist, republican and a proponent for Welsh independence, is the first female leader of Plaid Cymru and the first party leader to be a Welsh learner rather than already fluent in the Welsh language.
Wood was born in Llwynypia Hospital on 13 December 1971, the daughter of Jeff and Avril Wood. She was brought up and still lives in the nearby village of Penygraig. She was educated at Tonypandy Comprehensive School (now Tonypandy Community College), and the University of Glamorgan (now the University of South Wales).
From 1997 to 2000, Wood worked with the Mid Glamorgan Probation Service as a probation officer. From 1998 to 2000 she was co-Chair of the National Association of Probation Officers. Wood worked as a support worker for Cwm Cynon Women's Aid from 2001 to 2002, where she has been Chair since 2001. Wood lectured in social policy at Cardiff University from 2000, until her election to the National Assembly for Wales in 2003.