Five years after graduating from SMUS, alumna Morgan Warner ’19 is undoubtedly making an impact. After completing a master’s degree in Polar Studies — a field that examines the environments, peoples, and challenges of the Arctic and Antarctic — at the University of Cambridge this summer, Warner now dedicates her focus to climate and community work in Canada.
As a Project Manager with Unify Partners, a Vancouver-based company that partners with Indigenous communities on clean energy and other nation-led projects, she supports initiatives in Northern Canada. Her work explores how Canada can better protect its landscapes in the face of climate change.
Morgan revisited campus this September to reflect on her time since graduating SMUS.
What drew you to such a unique and specific field as Polar Studies?
I originally studied Indigenous governance and historical injustice in Canada during my undergraduate degree at the University of Victoria, and I have worked as a policy analyst for an Indigenous government in northern Canada. When I was looking for master’s programs, I wanted something that tied together those interests. Cambridge’s Scott Polar Research Institute stood out because it’s one of the first institutes in the world devoted to polar research. I applied with the idea of looking at the social impacts of forest fires in the Canadian north. Even though it felt a bit odd to leave Canada to study Canada, the resources and expertise there were incredible. It reminded me of why people come to SMUS — the resources and support were unmatched.
Your dissertation explored how communities in northern Canada respond to climate-driven events like wildfires. What stood out most from your research?
I focused on the emotional ties people have to nature, especially in rural and northern communities. My research drew on the concept of Sense of Place—the deep psychological and cultural connections people form with their environments. I wanted to understand what happens when those places are disrupted by climate-driven events like wildfires or flooding. My assumption was that people would feel less connected to the land after such devastation, but the opposite was true: they often felt even more attached. That sense of place gave them resilience and shaped how they adapted. Indigenous perspectives, with their profound ties to the land, also strongly influenced my work. Altogether, it showed me just how important these human–nature relationships are, not only culturally but also psychologically.
You have also been working with Unify Partners in Canada. What does that work involve, and what impact does it have?
Through my work with Unify Partners, which I’m continuing as a contractor, I get to support initiatives that are both practical and meaningful. It’s everything from writing grants and setting up solar panels that power local buildings to planning a large-scale energy park combining solar, wind, and bioenergy to take a community entirely off-grid.
The best part is being in conversation with communities: mapping out their goals, understanding why they want a project, and helping make it possible. That connection makes the work really fulfilling.
Looking back at your time at SMUS, how did your experiences here—including being a Head Prefect and playing rugby—shape you as a leader?
My time at SMUS was some of the best of my life. Being Head Prefect taught me a lot about leadership and service, especially the idea of reciprocal relationships: we were given so much support, and in turn, we learned to give back to the community. That lesson really shaped who I am today. I'm still close friends with Ewan Halliday '19, who was the other Head Prefect and is working in Germany now.
Rugby also played a big role. We were fortunate to have Chris May as a coaching mentor, and I learned firsthand how important it is to invest in others. Staff mentors also guided us—sometimes literally over lunch—sharing advice on leadership skills, group management, and supporting those around us. That care made a lasting impact. For me, leadership now means creating space where others can thrive and defining success in ways that reflect the needs of the group.
After graduation, you returned to help coach rugby at SMUS. Do you have any lasting memories or takeaways from that experience?
Coaching at SMUS was incredibly rewarding. I got to work alongside friends, mentor younger athletes, and watch them grow—not just as players but as people. Success wasn’t measured only in wins, but in how connected and supported the team felt. That perspective has carried into everything I’ve done since.
Now that you’re back in Canada, what’s next for you?
Right now I’m getting ready to move to Calgary, and I’m continuing my work with Unify Partners while also looking to get more involved in wildfire and forest policy. It’s an area that feels urgent and important, especially for rural and northern communities.
I’m particularly interested in how conservation and land management policies can adapt. Canada has set a target of placing 30% of its landmass into conservation territory by 2030, which I think is a strong first step — but I believe we can and should go further. Some of the most promising work I’ve seen is in the North, where conservation lands have been returned to Indigenous communities to manage themselves, and those territories are thriving. Long-term, I hope to combine my academic background and professional work to support policies like these — initiatives that both protect Canada’s landscapes and empower the people who know them best.
