Morgan Beeler

Job title: Senior US Public Affairs Director

Location: New York

Nationality: American

1. You’ve built a strong foundation in environmental policy, from your studies to hands-on work. Looking back, what experiences shaped the way you approach policy and public affairs today?

My approach to policy is grounded in both technical understanding and practical experience. My undergraduate and graduate studies gave me a strong foundation in how policymaking actually works, while my hands-on science background helped me understand the real-world systems that policy is trying to influence, from water quality to energy production and transmission. I’ve always believed that if you’re shaping or advising on policy, you need to understand the technical mechanics behind it.

Working for the State of Michigan and in government consulting for EPA further shaped my perspective. It gave me an inside view of how agencies operate and reinforced that regulators are deeply committed to their statutory missions. That experience continues to guide how I engage today – not asking “what can they do for us,” but “what information can we bring that makes the process more effective for everyone.”

2. Along the way, you also taught and mentored students at the University of Michigan. How did working with students and developing case studies influence how you think about policy?

Teaching and developing case studies reinforced something I strongly believe: good policy requires diverse perspectives. The most valuable part wasn’t just creating the cases, but hearing how students from engineering, nonprofit, political and private-sector backgrounds approached the same problem differently. Their creativity and willingness to challenge assumptions reminded me that there’s rarely a simple policy solution.

Every policy decision comes with trade-offs, and open discussion helps bring out those nuances. That experience continues to shape how I approach stakeholder engagement today – ensuring different viewpoints are considered before landing on a path forward.

3. Since joining STX Group, you’ve moved into a senior role in U.S. public affairs. Can you walk us through what your day-to-day looks like and how you approach leading policy and regulatory strategy?

No two days are the same, which is one of the reasons I love what I do. Overall, I focus on translating complex regulatory developments into actionable insights so our trading, risk and legal teams can act with confidence. That means staying closely plugged into policy shifts, collaborating with analytics to model potential impacts and engaging with external stakeholders to test assumptions and understand broader market signals.

I approach the role like solving a puzzle – connecting regulatory developments, market dynamics and business strategy to help STX make confident, well-informed decisions. As I’ve grown in the role, I’ve also focused on building clearer processes and aligning priorities so our team can operate strategically, not reactively.

4. Your work touches a lot of different areas, from stakeholder engagement to regulatory analysis. How do you balance these responsibilities while making sure your team and clients stay aligned on complex policy issues?

Prioritization is critical. I work closely with leadership to ensure my focus areas align with STX’s strategic objectives Then, I structure my time and team efforts around those priorities. Covering policy effectively requires both depth – truly understanding the mechanics of regulation – and breadth – engaging externally and communicating clearly internally.

The only way this works is through teamwork. I’m fortunate to work alongside incredibly sharp colleagues across policy, analytics, trading, legal and risk. That cross-functional approach allows us to stay aligned and proactive even as policy landscapes shift.

5. Looking at U.S. policy in your field, what trends or shifts are you paying the most attention to and how do you see them shaping your work in the next few years?

Three themes stand out to me: affordability, pragmatism and integrity. There’s increasing pressure to ensure energy transition policies are economically sustainable, politically durable and grounded in credible market design. I’m paying close attention to how regulators balance climate ambition with costs and how programs evolve to protect market integrity while scaling up.

These dynamics will shape how environmental commodity markets mature over the next several years – and ensuring those markets remain transparent, functional and trusted will be central to my work.

6. If you could share one piece of advice for someone looking to build a career at the intersection of policy, public affairs and environmental issues, what would it be?

Stay curious. Ask questions relentlessly and never stop learning. You don’t have to be the expert in every aspect of policy, markets or science, but you do need to know how to leverage the expertise around you. Building strong relationships and learning from colleagues across disciplines will make you far more effective than trying to master everything yourself. In a fast-moving policy landscape, curiosity and collaboration are your greatest advantages.