Archive page of posts in this category or categories:
RSI Team, Senior experts
The following posts are in no particular order. They are purposely randomized.
Donald Mattison
Don Mattison's career is an amalgamation of medicine, science, and public service. He started with a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry and Mathematics, followed by a Master's from MIT in Chemistry. He then pivoted to medicine, obtaining an MD from Columbia University and focusing on pharmacology and toxicology in reproductive health during his residencies. Mattison has held several prestigious appointments, including Dean of the University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Public Health and Chief Medical Officer at Risk Sciences International. Throughout his career, he obtained medical licenses in six U.S. states and served in the U.S. Public Health Service, retiring with the rank of Captain. Most recently, he became a Distinguished Professor of Epidemiology at the University of South Carolina.
Read More John Lark
John Lark is a globally recognized expert in risk management, with a distinguished career spanning leadership roles in research, committee chairing, and board-level facilitation. He collaborates with international bodies, including the OECD, US EPA, and ISO. Mr. Lark's expertise extends to speaking engagements at prominent conferences worldwide. He holds the CPRM certification and actively contributes to ISO committees. His extensive board experience includes chairing two not-for-profit boards and participating in major charities. He earned the ICD.D designation through the Director's Education Program. Mr. Lark authored the international ISO Guide for implementing ISO 31000:2009.
Read More Todd Ruthman
Todd Ruthman serves as Vice‑President, Software and Modelling Solutions at Risk Sciences International (RSI) and has been with RSI since its founding in 2006. With a BASc in Systems Design Engineering from the University of Waterloo, Todd strives to understand the complex interactions in systems -- a perspective that he channels into the design of data-driven, evidence-based decision-support applications for RSI’s clients. His team crafts custom IT solutions and leverages tools such as SQL Server, .NET,  Python, Excel, and R, to translate complex risk scenarios into interactive decision-support platforms.
Read More Cemil ‘Jim’ Alyanak
Cemil ‘Jim’ Alyanak joined Risk Sciences International (RSI) in 2018 and serves as Vice-President, Communications and Strategic Initiatives. In this senior leadership role, he leads RSI’s risk communications practice, drives cross-cutting initiatives, advances strategic in-house projects, and expands the company’s international presence and partnerships.
As creator of CRAFT (the Collective Risk Action Framework and Toolkit) and the Global Risk Census, Alyanak has helped establish RSI as a global innovator in stakeholder- and constituency-centered risk engagement. His expertise in perception analysis and communications strategy enables RSI to address complex challenges across public health, regulatory affairs, environmental risk, and humanitarian crisis response. From pandemic-era messaging to multistakeholder workshops and regulator support, his work consistently focuses on aligning message, audience, and outcomes that can be measured.
Recognized for his ability to navigate cross-cultural contexts and indigenous knowledge systems, Alyanak has worked extensively on in-region projects with local and indigenous communities worldwide. This grassroots experience informs his current portfolio, which includes collaboration and consensus-building projects that unite stakeholders and constituencies in addressing both shared and similar risks. He also provides regional, federal, and international policy guidance to companies and governing bodies seeking to design risk-informed policies, instruments, and frameworks.
Drawing on extensive emergency preparedness and disaster response experience, Alyanak now leads RSI’s Disaster and Emergency-related projects, advancing practical, risk-based solutions to complex emergencies and strengthening resilience across sectors.
Read More Daniel Krewski
Daniel Krewski began his career in the federal government of Canada, focusing on programs within Health Canada, particularly in food safety and environmental health. Trained in mathematics, statistics, and biostatistics, his multidisciplinary background reflects the complex nature of risk science. He later transitioned to academia, founding the McLaughlin Centre for Population Health Risk Assessment at the University of Ottawa. There, he developed new methodologies and collaborated internationally. In 2006, he co-founded Risk Sciences International, aiming to provide expert advice on diverse risk issues. His contributions have been instrumental in shaping risk assessment frameworks used by organizations like Health Canada and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In 2023, Dr. Krewski passed the CEO's baton to Greg Paoli; he remains active as RSI Chief Risk Scientist.
Read More Patricia Larkin
Dr. Patricia Larkin's career is dedicated to policy and regulatory assessments, focusing on the intersection of social determinants of health and health equity. Her expertise lies in managing human health and environmental risks, particularly in energy, water resources, and climate change. Patricia's research explores Canadian innovation in energy regulatory decision-making and its impact on risk management. She has led interdisciplinary international research projects, addressing risk management in public decision-making and environmental issues like carbon capture and storage. As Chair of the Applied Risk Management Specialty Group of the Society for Risk Analysis, she continues to contribute to this field.
Read More Paul Stanish
Dr. Paul Stanish joined Risk Sciences International (RSI) in 2021 as a Risk Analyst, where he plays an essential role in advancing data-driven risk practices. Leveraging his strong background in chemistry and nanotechnology, he supports clients in building modern data cultures grounded in causal inference, machine learning operations (MLOps), and organizational performance measurement. His work ensures that risk frameworks not only incorporate emerging technologies but are also scalable and operational within institutional settings.
Read More Franco Momoli
Franco Momoli transitioned from animal sciences to become an epidemiologist and biostatistician. Initially intrigued by human aging and Alzheimer's Disease, he later focused on cancer etiology and innovative statistical methods. As a professor at the University of Ottawa, he mentored graduate students and led multinational studies. He also worked at research institutes in Ottawa, contributing to diverse clinical research. Currently, he is the Practice Lead for Chemical and Product Safety at Risk Sciences International and an adjunct professor. His work spans from assessing environmental contaminants to innovating public health approaches in chemical management.
Read More Natalia (Natasha) Shilnikova
Natalia Shilnikova earned her medical degree and a PhD in Medical Sciences, focusing on epidemiology related to nuclear facilities. She moved to Canada in 2007, joining the University of Ottawa McLaughlin Centre for Population Health Risk Assessment. Since joining Risk Sciences International in 2011, Dr. Shilnikova has worked on projects involving toxicology, epidemiology, and human health risk assessment, including systematic reviews and toxicity profiles for various chemicals and drugs. She has also contributed to post-approval surveillance of novel cancer drugs.
Read More Nataliya Karyakina
Dr. Nataliya Karyakina brings extensive expertise in toxicology and risk assessment to RSI. With a Ph.D. in Toxicology and experience at the McLaughlin Centre for Population Health Risk Assessment, she specializes in evaluating health risks from exposure to various toxic agents. Her research spans essential and toxic metals, pharmaceuticals, and nanomaterials. She has contributed to projects on chemical classification and labeling, as well as health-based regulatory guidance. Currently, she focuses on the health effects of engineered nanoalumina and diagnostic criteria for occupational manganism.
Read More - « Previous
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- Next »