McLeish was born and raised in Yea,in the north of the electorate,growing up on the family farm. She said her family had been in the area since the early 1840s.[5] Her mother had the Railway Hotel (now the Peppercorn) in Yea for many years.[6]
After completing high school in Yea,McLeish attended University of Melbourne and completed a Bachelor of Science and a Diploma of Education,this was followed by a Graduate Diploma in counseling,after which she was able to register as a Psychologist.[7] McLeish,before entering parliament,worked also had experience working as a teacher.[1][8]
In 2001,McLeish completed an MBA from Melbourne Business School.[7] She was CEO of Women's Golf Victoria for many years,[8] and worked in the area of organisational effectiveness and leadership capability at Right Management prior to becoming elected.[8]
McLeish had just 18 days as Liberal candidate for the 2010 state election after replacing Mike Laker,who stepped down at the end of October citing personal reasons.[10]
Following the Napthine Coalition Government's defeat at the 2014 Victorian State Election,McLeish was appointed Shadow Assistant Minister for Communities &Volunteers.[citation needed]
In December 2018,McLeish was elected unopposed as Deputy Leader of the Victorian Liberal Party taking on roles as Shadow Minister for Education,Youth Affairs and Regional Cities.[11] She was replaced by David Southwick in September 2021.[12]
From September 2017,McLeish has continually served in various Shadow Ministerial roles,and is currently serving as the Shadow Minister for Crime Prevention since January 2025 and Shadow Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence and Shadow Minister for Women since December 2022.[8]
In June 2023,McLeish was called a "halfwit grub" by then Premier of Victoria,Daniel Andrews,over her raising a point of order arguing that Labor MP Kat Theophanous should abstain from voting on a bill,after it came out that Theophanous's father had lobbied for a developer in order to raise funds for his daughter's campaign,which Theonhanous was unwitting to.[13]
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