“We should see water in the environment, not just have it disappear into drains. That connection matters. I heard that people can smell rain better than sharks can smell blood in water. We’re built to connect with it.
“Even the concept of ‘draining a city’ is perverse. Why are we trying to get rid of something so valuable? Water should be part of our urban landscapes, sparking joy, beauty and curiosity.”
For Celeste, integrated water management is not just a technical discipline – it is a collaborative process that challenges siloed thinking.
“If we map out the sustainability and climate challenges we’re facing, including population growth, water scarcity, flooding and urban heat, water is connected to 90% of those challenges,” she says.
“Water is either part of the problem or part of the solution. But we’re often comfortable working in silos. Unless we step out of that comfort zone and speak to people designing roads, new developments, or engaging with communities, we’re not going to come up with meaningful solutions.
“That’s what integrated water management is about – it’s collaborative. People tend to think of it as a thing, but it’s not. It’s a verb. It’s something we do.”
Celeste believes circularity is key to unlocking this potential: “80% of the water that comes into a city leaves it again. That’s a massive opportunity being missed. If we treat water as a resource and reuse it, then we suddenly have an abundance of opportunity.”
Her approach to IWM has also been shaped by listening to Traditional Owners and embracing Indigenous knowledge.
“The concept of Country – everything being interconnected – is powerful. You heal Country, and that’s not just nature, it includes community, too,” she says.
“In western thinking, we tend to separate the environment from ourselves. But Traditional Knowledge reminds us we’re part of the same system. If we do what’s best for Country, we’re also doing what’s best for people.
“I also find the concept of waterways having personhood really transformative. If we treated a river as a person – an actual stakeholder at the table – how would we act differently?”
While she is now celebrated for her vision, Celeste’s career began with challenges.
“While I have been recognised as the 2025 Water Professional of the Year, it’s important to note that while I once started out in the water sector, I actually felt a bit pushed away by it at the beginning, probably like many young women in engineering,” she says.
“Women made up about 10% of engineering students at university, a percentage that continued into the workplace. There weren’t many senior female role models, and it was quite a male-dominated environment.
“My journey into the water community actually started by leaving it. I was two years into a graduate role and left because I was frustrated with that lack of role models, but also with the expectation that engineers can’t shape the agenda.”
Stepping away from water gave her the space to broaden her perspective. “I went into sustainability, tackling climate change, and joined a firm that did city master planning. When you’re designing cities and new places to live, water is always such a big opportunity,” she says.
“With my background in water management, I could see how water could really shape a place. I ended up naturally designing water solutions.”
Returning to the sector, Celeste found herself determined to change the culture that once pushed her out.
“Things have definitely moved on since I started. My team is now 75% female or non-binary, which is completely different from the environment I entered 20 years ago,” she says.
“But I think it’s important we keep thinking about how we welcome young engineers into the sector from all genders and backgrounds.”
For Celeste, inclusion is not just about fairness – it’s about improving the quality of outcomes. She believes diverse teams are better placed to ask the difficult questions, challenge the status quo, and co-create solutions that reflect community needs.