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The following posts are in no particular order. They are purposely randomized.
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 Communication alignment across jurisdictions
RSI supports alignment through pre-event planning workshops, messaging templates, and interagency coordination protocols. The firm helps map messaging chains, test consistency under time pressure, and document roles. RSI draws from its expertise in both risk communication and governance to build systems that are timely, clear, and coordinated.
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 SO2
Sulfur dioxide (SOâ‚‚) is a major air pollutant generated primarily from the combustion of fossil fuels and certain industrial processes. Exposure is linked to respiratory irritation, asthma exacerbation, and cardiovascular effects, while also contributing to acid rain, which damages ecosystems, infrastructure, and agriculture. Although emissions have declined in many regions due to regulations, SOâ‚‚ remains…
Read More Benchmark dose and reference value derivation
RSI offers benchmark dose modeling and reference value derivation as part of its technical modeling and toxicological services. Its staff are experienced with tools like BMDS and PROAST, and apply international best practices for model fitting, critical effect selection, and uncertainty factor justification. RSI documents decisions with transparency, providing clients with not only reference values, but defensible narratives suitable for regulatory or policy use.
Read More Monitoring and evaluation
RSI designs and conducts M&E frameworks tailored to regulatory programs, emergency plans, or public engagement efforts. It defines meaningful indicators, collects robust data, and synthesizes findings for stakeholders. RSI emphasizes learning-oriented evaluation, helping clients improve programs while demonstrating value and performance.
Read More Vulnerability analysis
RSI integrates vulnerability analysis into its community risk assessments and foresight work. Using composite indicators, geospatial data, and stakeholder input, RSI identifies priority groups or areas and recommends targeted interventions. The firm ensures that vulnerability findings inform both risk prioritization and strategy development.
Read More Structured expert judgment
RSI applies structured expert judgment methods in areas such as toxicology, disaster risk, and emerging technology assessment. The firm manages expert panels, designs elicitation instruments, and synthesizes results into risk estimates or scenario inputs. RSI ensures transparency and defensibility through documented methods and peer-reviewed protocols.
Read More AI supported decision making
Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a transformative force in decision-making across sectors ranging from healthcare and finance to energy, transportation, and regulation. The promise of AI lies in its ability to process vast amounts of data quickly, uncover hidden patterns, and support evidence-informed decisions in ways that humans alone cannot easily achieve. Yet the risks…
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