About RSI
Risk Sciences International
Risk is not just one of our services, it is our only service.
What we do
What we do
We extract, interpret, and model evidence to help clients understand, manage, and communicate risk—grounding our work in science and practice to support decisions that serve both institutional goals and the public interest.
Why clients trust us
Why clients trust us
Our guidance is anchored in science and built on decades of regulatory and policy experience. We are trusted advisors to clients across government, industry, and civil society, helping them face complexity with confidence.
We innovate
We innovate
Innovation at RSI begins before the request. We co-develop methods and tools that evolve alongside our clients’ needs—building solutions shaped by real-world problems, not abstract templates.
Results matter
Results matter
RSI has supported over 400 clients in 100+ countries, authored 700+ peer-reviewed publications, and held multi-year contracts across sectors—results that reflect both long-term impact and earned trust.
About us
About us
Founded in 2006 in Ottawa, now serving clients worldwide, RSI’s team spans disciplines—epidemiologists, engineers, communicators, toxicologists, doctors, policy veterans, UN alumni, and professors—uniting science with lived expertise.
When clients engage with a new firm, they have specific expectations influenced by how the organization portrays itself. The importance of providing clear and unambiguous narratives is therefore critical. We strive to do so. RSI only bids on, or accepts, projects that we feel we can deliver favorably.
Risk Sciences International is a boutique firm that specializes in offering proven expertise in risk to organizations in the private, public, and civil sectors. Our company operates at a size where, for most contracts, the project lead is one of our senior scientists, engineers, or specialized practice leads. It is worth noting that despite our modest size, RSI boasts a strong reputation, empowering us to attract highly qualified external associate experts. As a result, RSI consistently delivers high-quality results on projects ranging from those typical of small businesses and local communities to large and intricate endeavors undertaken for multinational corporations, federal governments, and multilateral organizations.
The company – Risk Sciences International, Inc. (RSI) – formally founded in 2006, is headquartered in Ottawa (Canada), is led by CEO Greg Paoli, and specializes in understanding, managing, and communicating risks that impact health, personal livelihoods, property, public infrastructure, the environment, regulatory compliance, stakeholder expectations, and broader societal, industrial, and governmental activities.
If your goal is to understand, manage, or communicate risks more effectively, so as to make better-informed choices when addressing present or emerging risks, Risk Sciences International aspires to earn the privilege of becoming your trusted advisor.
Contact or Connect Directly with Leadership
Should you be ready, the button below will take you to our Contact / Connect page where you can do two things:
- Send us a message that we will respond to promptly, and/or
- Book a 30-minute exploratory meeting with one of our leadership team members who can answer questions and begin to explore how RSI may be of use to you.
More details...
RSI's homepage is very information-rich with many details regarding RSI's services, experience, resources, philosophy and more. If you have already seen it, great, if you have not, we encourage you to visit it.
Discover our experts...
RSI Experts come from multiple disciplines, cultural backgrounds, and even philosophies of risk. Jointly, they are a unique group of risk specialists able to deliver highly pragmatic results.
RISK.
RSI Milestones
1993
Paoli IRR
Greg Paoli joins Institute for Risk Research at the University of Waterloo
1995
Krewski heads McLaughlin Centre
Daniel Krewski retires from Health Canada and becomes head of the University of Ottawa's R. Samuel McLaughlin Centre for Population Health Risk Assessment
1997
Decisionalysis
Greg Paoli leaves IRR and forms Decisionalysis Risk Consultants
1997-2000
Decisionalysis early team
Current RSI experts Todd Ruthman, Emma Hartnett, Anne Wiles and Margaret Wilson join Decisionalysis Risk Consultants.
2005
Paoli SRA Councillor
Greg Paoli appointed as Councillor of the Society for Risk Analysis
2006
RSI founded
Daniel Krewski and Greg Paoli found Risk Sciences International, Inc. as a merger/partnership of Decisionalysis Risk Consultants and the University of Ottawa's R. Samuel McLaughlin Centre for Population Health Risk Assessment
2007, 2009
World Health Day
RSI expert develops communication strategy and all tools for the World Health Organization's global World Health Day campaign
2007
Toxicity C21
As Chair of a National Academy of Sciences committee, Daniel Krewski leads the publication of a seminal publication: Toxicity in the 21st Century
2008
I.D.I.Q.
RSI awarded first of three IDIQ contracts with the US FDA
2008-2011
Sussex Drive
RSI opens head office on Sussex Drive in Ottawa
2009
Nobel session
RSI expert moderates luminary panel including Nobel Peace Laureate Rajendra Pachauri
2009
Science and Decisions
Greg Paoli participates in publication of Science and Decisions
2010
Paoli Distinguished Lectureship
Greg Paoli receives Distinguished Lectureship Award jointly by the Society for Risk Analysis and Sigma Xi.
2012
Launch of FDA iRisk
On behalf of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) RSI launches iRISK, a web-based system to analyze data concerning microbial and chemical hazards in food and return an estimate of the resulting health burden on a population level.
2013
SRA Distinguished Achievement Award
Daniel Krewski is awarded the Society for Risk Analysis' Distinguished Achievement Award
2011-2013
Dalhousie Street
RSI moves its head office to Dalhousie Street in Ottawa
2013-2018
Metcalfe Street
RSI moves its head office to Metcalfe Street in Ottawa
2016
SRA Chauncey Starr Award
Emma Hartnett awarded the Society for Risk Analysis' Chauncey Starr Distinguished Young Risk Analyst Award
2018~
Laurier Avenue
RSI moves its head office to Laurier Avenue in Ottawa
2018
Washington D.C.
RSI opens Washington D.C. official liaison
2023
Greg Paoli becomes CEO
After 17 years at the helm of RSI, Daniel Krewski steps down. Greg Paoli becomes RSI CEO.
Daniel Krewski stays on as Chief Risk Scientist and senior advisor.
2023
Three pillars
RSI converts its service offerings to fit into three distinct pillars: Understanding | Managing | Communicating Risk
2024
All virtual
Post-pandemic, RSI makes the bold choice to go all virtual; productivity and results soar far beyond pre-virtual levels.
2025
CRAFT
RSI launches CRAFT — Collective Risk Action Framework and Toolkit — holding Safety-Kx, the inaugural event attended by multiple Canadian regulators.
RSI in pictures
Origins at the University of Ottawa (the vision for RSI pre-incorporation, circa 2005): Building on the unique programs in risk science within the McLaughlin Centre for Population Health Risk Assessment under the leadership of Daniel Krewski at the University of Ottawa, Risk Sciences International was originally conceived as a spin-off company from the university to address a broad range of risk issues of concern both in Canada and internationally.
Walking from uOttawa to Sussex Drive (2008-2011): RSI’s original location on Sussex was a short 15 minute walk to the downtown campus of the University of Ottawa, where the McLaughlin Centre was located at that time. The walk took you through some of the most quaint corners of the By Ward market, with Planet Coffee providing the perfect spot for a midway stopover.
First Location on Sussex Drive (2008-2011): RSI was incorporated in March, 2006 and shortly afterwards opened its first offices on Sussex Drive, directly across the street from the US Embassy. Greg Paoli joined RSI as a founding principal at this time, integrating his risk consulting practice operating through his own company Decisionanalysis into RSI. RSI’s initial location was a designated heritage building on one of Ottawa’s most prestigious streets, with a back courtyard paved with cobblestones, and centered by a charming fountain.
By Ward Market Seen from 325 Dalhousie Street (2011-2013): A change in ownership of the Union Life Building resulted in its begin demolished and converted into the luxury hotel, necessitating RSI to move to a new location. The view of the By Ward Market looking west from RSI’s Dalhouse Street Location can now only be seen if you check into room 926 in the new Aziz Hotel, which replaced the Union Life Building.
Notre Dame Basilica Seen from Dalhousie Street Penthouse Location (2011-2013): Quickly outgrowing its initial location on Sussex Drive, RSI moved to a second location on Dalhousie Street in 2008. The owners of the building agreed to completely renovate the top floor to accommodate RSI, providing spectacular views of Ottawa and the surrounding region in all directions, including Notre Dame Basilica to the northwest.
Metcalfe Street Main Lobby (2013-2018): With the demolition of the Union Life Building, RSI moved to the Manulife Building on Metcalfe Street in 2011, which had a lobby designed to impress even the most discerning visitors. Chance meetings with well-known Ottawa figures, including former Prime Minister Jean Chretien (a most pleasant individual during elevator conversation), were not uncommon.
War Memorial off Metcalfe Street (2013-2018): The War Memorial in Confederation Square just off Metcalfe Street was the site of Canada’s only domestic terrorist attack on October 22, 2014, when an unarmed guard was fatally shot. The incident occurred just before 10 am, with RSI staff locked down for most of that day.
Confederation Boulevard off Laurier Avenue (2018- ): As the city with the highest density of green space in North America, RSI staff are just a few minutes walk from Confederation Park off Laurier Avenue. The park is located on Confederation Boulevard, the ceremonial route used foreign dignitaries for state visits to Canada’s capital.
251 Laurier Avenue (2018- ): Requiring more space, RSI moved to its current Laurier Avenue location in 2018, occupying the entire seventh floor. An attractive aspect of this location was being just two blocks south of from the Parliament Station of the new subway being built through downtown Ottawa.
Parliament from Rideau Canal (not specific to any time period/location, but the photo was taken on October 19, 2008): All four of RSI’s locations in downtown Ottawa have been within a few minutes walk from Parliament Hill. Over the years, RSI has served a number of federal clients in Ottawa, addressing a wide range of risk issues of importance to Canadians.
Rideau Canal Overlooking Ottawa River (not specific to any time period/location, but the photo was taken on October 19, 2008): With over 15 years of conducting business in four increasingly larger locations in downtown Ottawa, RSI staff are well acquainted with well-known landmarks in Canada’s capital, including the Rideau Canal. This historic waterway was built by Colonel By in 1826, and empties into the Ottawa River between Parliament Hill on the left and the historic Chateau Laurier on the right.
Entertaining Clients at the Black Thorne Café (2008-2011): The courtyard behind RSI’s first offices on Sussex Drive backed on to the Black Thorne Café – a perfect spot for entertaining clients.
World Exchange Plaza Chip Wagon (2013-2018): The World Exchange Plaza is located directly across the street from the Manulife Building on Metcalfe Street. Although the Plaza has a number of very good restaurants, the chip wagon in front of the Plaza seemed to have captured a disproportionate share of RSI’s lunch business.
