Gov. Roy Cooper picked Elizabeth Biser last June to lead the Department of Environmental Quality. She followed Michael Regan in the role after he became administrator of the federal Environmental Protection Agency. And while Cooper’s initial pick to replace Regan faced opposition in the confirmation process, Biser’s longstanding relationships with many legislators from her time as a lobbyist help her confirmation sail through with bipartisan support. She’s now one of the key leaders in implementing Cooper’s ambitious clean energy plans.

Age: 38

What are some of the past jobs you’ve held outside of state government? I’ve had the opportunity to work in both the private and nonprofit sectors, in addition to my time in state government. I served as a government relations and policy advisor for Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard, LLP.  I also worked on recycling and circular economy issues at the national level as vice president of policy and public affairs at The Recycling Partnership, before starting my own firm, Biser Strategies LLC.

I spent time early in my career at this agency, back when it was still the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources, so I’m able to build on my knowledge and understanding of the department with the perspective I gained working in the private sector on some of the same key issues.

What lessons from those roles have you applied to your current position? In every position, I learned the importance of good communication and how talking through tough issues and looking for common ground can lead to great outcomes.

What’s the most common misconception about your agency? That we are just about permits.  We have so many great programs, like the Marine Patrol and the Coastal Reserves that are part of our department. We have the Recycling program to help develop markets for materials that can be reused and support efforts to move to a more circular economy, and programs like Waste Reduction Partners and the Environmental Stewardship Initiative to help companies voluntarily go above and beyond environmental regulations to reduce water, waste, energy and air emissions.

Where did you grow up? I grew up in Columbus and Johnston counties. My father was a county manager. From watching his work, I learned from an early age how good government can help people.

What is your favorite hobby outside of work? I love to read, mostly non-fiction. I often have several books going at once, and it’s a running joke with my team that you may leave my office with a reading assignment and a copy of one of my favorite books!