Since 2020, Mikael Leyi is the Secretary General of SOLIDAR, a European and global network of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) working to advance social justice through a just transition in Europe and worldwide. SOLIDAR voices the concerns of its member organisations to the EU and international institutions by carrying out advocacy actions, project management and coordination, policy monitoring and awareness-raising across its different policy areas.

Prior to SOLIDAR, Mikael Leyi worked as part of the labour movement in Sweden for fifteen years, in the field of international development cooperation and youth projects, in various roles. His latest position was as Head of the International Department of the Olof Palme International Center, overseeing the organisation´s strategic development and programmes worldwide.

Academically, Mikael Leyi is a Political Scientist, with a vast professional background both in competences and geographically speaking he has worked in the 5 continents with European and international organisations of the trade union and popular education movements, as well as the institutions of the EU, OSCE and the UN. Developing an in-depth knowledge of the labour movement's various organisations, political priorities, and activities, and the experiences of democratisation, industrialisation and welfare expansion in Sweden, Europe and internationally.