Olga Abinader, a former New York City planning official, has joined GZA GeoEnvironmental Inc.’s Land Use and Environmental Planning practice as an associate principal, based in GZA’s Manhattan offices.
Based in GZA’s Manhattan offices, Abinader will play a key leadership role within the firm’s planning practice, helping clients navigate land use regulations, environmental impact assessments, and sustainable development initiatives, the firm said. GZA’s Land Use and Environmental Planning has been growing to meet rising client demand for complex planning and permitting expertise.
“On behalf of all her new colleagues at GZA, I’m honored to welcome Olga to our team,” said GZA President and CEO Patrick Sheehan. “She brings tremendous experience and technical skills in urban planning, environmental review and sustainability across both the public and private sectors.”
Abinader most recently served as director of Environmental Review and Land Use Planning at Matrix New World Engineering, a national environmental consulting firm. In her role as director of the environmental assessment and review division at the New York City Department of City Planning, she oversaw hundreds of major development projects through the City Environmental Quality Review process, supporting transit-oriented growth, affordable housing and resilient communities across New York City.
She holds a Master of Urban Planning from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Arts from Brown University. Abinader earned the Envision Sustainability Professional (ENV SP) designation and the WEDG (Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines) Associate credential.
