Kay Blades is a Mandandanji woman whose life and leadership are deeply connected to the Balonne River in southern Queensland. Growing up on the riverbanks, her Water Country lies in the northern reaches of the Murray–Darling Basin. Her work in the water space is grounded in a profound cultural responsibility to look after Country. As a leading voice for Aboriginal water rights and interests, she has advised the Australian Government on the new National Water Agreement, and the Murray-Darling Basin Authority on the Native Fish Recovery Strategy. She has also led a project to incorporate Traditional Knowledge, Indigenous leadership and Self-determination into water modelling and waterways assessment – an example of her ability to move confidently between Indigenous knowledge systems and Western science, engineering and technology. By bridging these worlds, Blades’ impact is particularly powerful, reshaping conversations about water management to ensure they are culturally informed, environmentally sustainable and socially just.