Alison Verkade -Maryland, USA

With over 20 years’ experience in marine fisheries habitat science and management, Alison is an expert in environmental analysis to support regulatory requirements and permitting. As Director of Environmental Assessment, Alison brings her background in fisheries habitat conservation and policy, scientific analysis, and interagency and interdisciplinary coordination. Before Pioneer Consulting, she worked for NOAA Fisheries, where she excelled in fast-tracking coastal and offshore projects by engaging stakeholders and regulatory agencies to find solutions, and represented the organization as a technical fisheries habitat expert on multiple regional, national, and international committees and working groups. In addition, Alison led the development of the first regional programmatic essential fish habitat consultation with the New England Army Corps of Engineers and NOAA’s Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office Recommendations for Mapping Fish Habitat.