HOBOKEN, NJ, July 22, 2025 – Pioneer Consulting, the full-service submarine fiber optic telecommunications consulting and project management company, is pleased to announce the appointment of Alison Verkade as Director of Environmental Assessment.
“Protecting the environment and all species that depend on its preservation is justly a growing and critical concern among our clients and the governing bodies with which we work. Pioneer Consulting has always taken this responsibility extremely seriously, and we’re proud to bring Alison on board to further strengthen our capabilities on this crucial front,” said Gavin Tully.
A biologist and researcher, Alison brings over 20 years of experience in environmental assessments with a focus on fisheries habitat policy and conservation. Specifically, Alison began her career by evaluating habitat and fisheries interactions resulting from the installation of the Hibernia fiber optic cable within the Stellwagen National Marine Sanctuary.
In this new role, Alison will elevate Pioneer Consulting’s regulatory and permitting capacity and expertise, while pushing the industry forward as governments and clients alike strive to meet commercial goals without negatively impacting wildlife and their habitats. She will interface with organizations such as the US Army Corps of She will also contribute to marine desktop studies for submarine cable route engineering and will assist with the acquisition of permits for various systems.
Dr. Lorraine Gray, Pioneer Consulting Director of Permitting, stated, “On behalf of the company, we are delighted to have Alison on board. Her extensive work experience complements our team of engineering specialists, and she will be a vital asset in preparing essential fish habitat and biological assessments—critical studies required for installation of a submarine cable system.”
Commenting on her new role, Alison said: “As a company that recognizes the importance of environmental consequences that can occur from marine development and is actively seeking to expand this input into their process, Pioneer Consulting is a perfect fit for me. In my previous work, I developed a deep understanding of not only the environmental impacts of marine development projects, but also the integration of environmental response, interaction with fisheries and environmental stakeholders, and the regulatory regime crucial to the development of a project. I look forward to bringing my expertise to the company as well as broadening my skill set.”
Before Pioneer Consulting, Alison worked for multiple state and federal environmental entities. In her most recent position at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries, she excelled in fast-tracking coastal and offshore projects by engaging project proponents, stakeholders, and regulatory agencies. In addition, Alison led the development of multiple streamlining initiatives, including NOAA’s Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office’s Recommendations for Mapping Fish Habitat. She also represented the organization as a technical fisheries habitat expert on multiple regional, national, and international committees and working groups, including the Substrate Workgroup revision for the NOAA Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard.
“Protecting the environment and all species that depend on its preservation is justly a growing and critical concern among our clients and the governing bodies with which we work. Pioneer Consulting has always taken this responsibility extremely seriously, and we’re proud to bring Alison on board to further strengthen our capabilities on this crucial front,” said Gavin Tully, Managing Partner at Pioneer Consulting. “Alison is a top expert in marine environments and resource protection and a true asset to our team of global leaders.”
To learn more about Pioneer Consulting, visit www.pioneerconsulting.com or send an email to [email protected]. You may also follow the company on LinkedIn.