Leah Barton, MBA, MA

Leah Barton is Executive Director for Harris County Public Health, with a mission is to protect health, prevent disease and injury, and promote health and well-being for everyone in Harris County. Prior to her appointment, she served as Harris County Deputy County Administrator and as Managing Director of Grants and Partnerships, overseeing the administration of $1B of COVID recovery funds made available through the American Rescue Plan Act. Leah's career spans nearly 20 years in the energy sector, serving in leadership roles at Centrica plc/Direct Energy, MXenergy, Shell Chemical LP, and Nuvera Fuel Cells. Leah began her career as a US Peace Corps volunteer in Tanzania.

Leah is active in the Houston community, currently serving as Director of Amazing Place, as Advisory Board Member for ProUnitas, and as an American Leadership Forum Senior Fellow. She previously served as a Board Member of Child Advocates, President of the University of Houston Friends of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, and as founding Board Chair of EMERGE, a college access organization.

Leah earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Yale, a Master of Business Administration from the Wharton School, and a Master of Arts in International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania.