I never planned to become a scientist or an academic, but my love of plants and rivers led me to become a riparian ecologist.
My early research focused on how the seasonal timing of river flows shapes riparian plant dynamics, and how river regulation disrupts these processes. This work was grounded in the natural flow regime paradigm. Broadening my focus beyond the river channel, I then explored how river–floodplain connectivity sustains healthy floodplains, drawing on the flood pulse concept.
More recently, working alongside Wurundjeri’s Narrap team, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for First Nations science and its understanding of rivers and wetlands as living entities. In my presentation, I’ll share my research journey and explore some of the synergies between freshwater ecology and First Nations knowledge.