Thirty four year old Melanie Cave, a partner in the Perth banking and finance team, has ten years' experience in the water and waste industries and heads up Freehills' national waste focus group.

Despite her young age, her practice has already led her to advise on national and international projects, including Western Australia's first two desalination plants, the state's first resource recovery facility to be delivered by a local government as a PPP, Singapore's first desalination plant, and Singapore's first privatized incineration plant, delivered as a PPP.

In addition to her legal work, Cave has also been a member of The Big Issue Advisory Committee in Perth for two years and an active scout leader for 15 years. She also chairs Freehills' Perth Community Committee.

The Australian Young Environmental Lawyer of the Year Award is awarded annually to a young practising barrister, solicitor, or university employee who has made a significant contribution to environmental law and has carried out extra work by giving back to the legal community as well as to the community at large.