Leah Beesley is a freshwater ecologist and academic at the University of Western Australia, where she teaches undergraduate and postgraduate students and conducts applied ecological research. Her work examines how freshwater species and ecosystems respond to environmental change, with a particular focus on environmental flows, intermittent rivers, urban waterways, biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration. She collaborates closely with government agencies, Traditional Owners, industry and community organisations to address knowledge gaps and translate ecological evidence into practical management outcomes.