Every year, Environmental Justice Australia recognises the people and groups whose courage, persistence and generosity make a real difference in the pursuit of environmental justice.
Our 2025–26 award recipients reflect the many ways people contribute to this work, from determined community advocacy and generous pro bono legal support to creating opportunities for the next generation.
We're delighted to celebrate their contributions.
Environmental Justice Award
Mullaley Gas & Pipeline Accord Inc (MGPA)
For more than a decade, volunteer community group MGPA stood up for the environment, agricultural land and communities of the Namoi Catchment in north-western NSW.
In June 2025, represented by EJA, MGPA launched a Federal Court challenge over the federal Environment Minister's failure to apply key water protections to the proposed Narrabri Lateral Pipeline. The pipeline would transport gas from Santos' proposed 850 coal seam gas wells through agricultural land and Gomeroi Country.
Taking on the federal government and one of Australia's largest fossil fuel companies takes extraordinary courage and resolve. This legal challenge was just one chapter in MGPA's long history of determined community advocacy.
Although MGPA is now in liquidation, the commitment of its volunteers to protecting the Namoi Catchment and the communities that depend on it deserves lasting recognition.
It has been a privilege to stand alongside them.
Pro Bono Award
Phoebe Knowles & Daniel Robinson
Barristers Phoebe Knowles and Daniel Robinson have made an exceptional contribution to Wadi Wadi Traditional Owner Vince Kirby's legal challenges to floodplain engineering projects at Nyah and Vinifera on the Murray River.
Phoebe brought dedication, diligence and extraordinary generosity to the counsel team, often working long hours to help meet urgent deadlines.
When an urgent court hearing arose in June 2026, Daniel stepped in, getting across a complex case before appearing in court. His commitment has continued well beyond that hearing.
Their expertise and willingness to go above and beyond have been invaluable to EJA and to Vince, whose efforts to protect Nyah and Vinifera concern a connected cultural landscape of land and waterways.
We're deeply grateful for their generosity, skill and commitment to this important work.
Volunteer Award
Aimee Lawson
Aimee Lawson joined EJA through our First Nations internship program, bringing valuable community legal experience, thoughtful communication and a generous approach to everything she did.
She quickly made an impression on our team through the quality of her work, her diligence and the care she brought to each task.
But Aimee's contribution didn't end with her placement. She also offered to support future First Nations interns navigating the Aurora application process, helping make the pathway more accessible for those following in her footsteps.
Her generosity, initiative and commitment to supporting others reflect the very best of EJA's volunteer community.
We're delighted to recognise Aimee with this year's Volunteer Award.
To all our award recipients: thank you. Your contributions remind us that environmental justice is a collective effort, strengthened by people who bring their courage, expertise, care and determination to the work.
People of EJA
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The challenges we face are vast. The time to push for large-scale system change is now.
