Lesliey Golds awarded 2025 Chris Davis AM Fellowship

The Australian Water Association is proud to announce Lesliey Golds, Circular Design Advisor at Beca HunterH2O, as the 2025 recipient of the Chris Davis AM Fellowship – recognising her leadership in integrating Traditional Knowledge and circular economy principles to advance sustainable water management across Australia.

Now in its third year, the Chris Davis AM Fellowship supports emerging leaders who share the late Chris Davis AM’s passion for knowledge, integrity, and innovation in the water sector.

The Fellowship provides funding to help individuals develop projects that strengthen the sector’s ability to manage water sustainably, fostering initiatives that inspire collaboration and create lasting impact.

This year, the Fellowship supports Lesliey’s commitment to advancing the Gunimaa and Gali Circular Tool – a pioneering framework that blends Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander wisdom with contemporary sustainability thinking.

“Being selected for the Chris Davis AM Fellowship is a real honour. I’m deeply grateful to everyone who encouraged me to submit (you all know who you are) – your support means the world to me, and I wouldn’t be here without you,” she said.

Integrating cultural values and circular design

Lesliey’s work sits at the intersection of culture, science, and design. Through the Gunimaa and Gali Circular Tool, she has helped create a practical way for water professionals to embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values and circular economy principles throughout project planning and delivery.

The tool takes its inspiration from the Waratah flower – representing connection, renewal, and resilience – and invites practitioners to view sustainability through a cultural lens. By guiding users to consider environmental, social, and cultural factors as interdependent, the tool helps enable projects to deliver meaningful outcomes for both people and Country.

Developed within Beca HunterH2O’s Indigenous-led Gunimaa and Gali group, the tool is being trialled across coastal projects and is adaptable for use by other Traditional Owner groups across Australia and the Pacific. It builds on the success of previous circular design frameworks while introducing deeper, place-based engagement grounded in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives.

Learning on Country

With the support of the Fellowship, Lesliey intends to deliver an On Country Classroom – an immersive learning experience designed to deepen cultural understanding and strengthen relationships within the water sector.

Over four days, participants will engage directly with Traditional Owners, explore the philosophy behind the Circular Tool, and take part in workshops that challenge perceptions and encourage reflection on how Indigenous knowledge can inform sustainable practice.

"I’m excited to work with AWA through the On Country Classroom and to expand our knowledge sharing to help create a truly sustainable water future for Country, for community, and for Australia,” Lesliey said.

The experience aims to build cultural confidence, inspire advocacy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander success, and equip participants to integrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives into their professional work.

Leading with purpose

Lesliey’s leadership reflects the values that defined Chris Davis AM – knowledge-sharing, legacy-building, and service to others. Her approach is grounded in collaboration and humility, bringing together multidisciplinary teams, Traditional Owners, and technical experts to co-design water solutions that respect Country and community.

Drawing on her background in environmental and marine science and expertise in circular economy, Lesliey has guided countless design teams to think beyond compliance and towards regeneration. Her practical, inclusive approach ensures sustainability is embedded as a foundation rather than an afterthought, while her passion for integrating cultural integrity into project delivery continues to inspire colleagues and partners alike.

Through this Fellowship, AWA looks forward to supporting Lesliey over the next 12 months as she expands the reach of the Gunimaa and Gali Circular Tool and leads the next On Country Classroom.

Lesliey’s work represents a powerful example of how cultural knowledge and technical innovation can come together to create truly sustainable water futures – a vision that resonates deeply with the spirit of Chris Davis AM.

Previous recipients, Catherine Vero and Jess Bohorquez, have championed research and practice that continues to shape how the sector responds to environmental and social challenges.

Learn more about the Chris Davis AM Fellowship here.