This March, Leo Tomsons joined the board of “BrainGain Latvia” — a finance professional who, after seven years in the United Kingdom, returned to Latvia with unwavering conviction: international experience is meant to be reinvested at home.

Seven Years in England

Leo relocated to the UK in 2013, first pursuing business administration at Northampton College before studying Finance, Accounting and Management at the University of Nottingham, where he graduated with First Class Honours. Even before departing, he had a clear intention — to acquire an international education and ultimately return. Alongside his studies, Leo worked, immersed himself in British culture, and forged friendships with people from across the globe.

Those years abroad shaped him profoundly: greater independence, a broadened worldview, and firsthand insight into life in Western Europe. Yet as time passed, a quiet longing for home took root — for the Latvian language, for Latvia’s landscapes, and for that elusive sense of belonging.

The Decision to Return

His decision to return in 2020 was anything but impulsive — it was the product of careful deliberation. Leo recognized that a UK degree would open doors to strong career prospects in Latvia. He also observed that, while living standards in both countries were broadly comparable, the cost of living in the UK was considerably steeper. This realization tipped the scales decisively in favour of returning.

“There was also a deeply personal dimension to it — the desire to spend more time with family. Parents grow older, and I came to understand that distance isn’t measured only in kilometres, but in time you can never reclaim. Latvia has always been where my roots lie, and my years abroad only reinforced my determination to be part of what’s happening here,” Leo reflects.

Shortly after settling back in, he embarked on a career in audit — first at an international audit firm, then across several finance companies. He now works in finance and holds the internationally recognised Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) qualification.

From Member to Board Member

Leo joined the association in 2022, two years after his return, just as in-person events resumed following the pandemic. Having by then settled into life in Latvia, he briefly wondered whether an association built around the returnee experience still held relevance for him. Yet the very first events dispelled any doubt, and joining proved to be one of the most rewarding decisions he made after coming home. He went on to serve three consecutive terms as Co-Chair of the Audit Committee, overseeing the association’s financial integrity and accountability.

“Through the association, I’ve met remarkable people — professionals with diverse international backgrounds, united by a shared purpose: contributing to Latvia. Here, I’ve found not just collaborators, but kindred spirits and genuine friends,” Leo notes.

Motivation and Goals

On the board, Leo is eager to take on greater responsibility and play an active role in driving the association’s continued growth. In financial matters, he has already contributed to EU funding applications and intends to keep strengthening the responsible stewardship of the association’s resources. Alongside this, Leo lends a hand with Story Nights, supporting the organisational side and welcoming guests. His ambition is to foster broader member engagement and elevate the association’s visibility.

“I believe people with international experience can be a genuine asset to Latvia’s development — by sharing knowledge and by building bridges between Latvia and the wider world,” Leo adds.

Welcome to the board!