- 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.
- Ila Cote
Dr. Cote boasts over 35 years of expertise in public health risk assessment and environmental management. She advises governments and industries on chemical exposure risks and risk assessment implementation. An adjunct professor at the University of Colorado, she educates on environmental health, risk assessment, and public policy. Dr. Cote also teaches risk assessment at Rutgers University. Her research focuses on cancer, respiratory diseases, and enhancing risk assessment methods. She spent 27 years at the US Environmental Protection Agency, serving in roles like Senior Science Advisor, Division Director, and Associate Laboratory Director. Dr. Cote's influence extends globally, advising organizations like the World Health Organization and the National Institutes of Health.
- 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.
- Paul Price
With 45 years of experience in exposure and risk assessment, Dr. Paul Price has worked with diverse organizations, including the U.S. EPA and Dow Chemical. Specializing in mixture risk assessments, he is an adjunct professor at the University of Iowa and serves on the European Food Safety Authority’s committee on combined exposures. A prolific author, Dr. Price is currently focused on publications concerning mixture risk assessment and the Mixture Adjustment Factor.
- Mustafa Al-Zoughool
Dr. Al-Zoughool has maintained a long-standing relationship with Risk Sciences International, both as a scientific collaborator and as a co-investigator on complex international projects. His work with RSI focuses on high-level public health risk modeling, mechanistic data analysis, and toxicological risk assessment of major environmental contaminants in air, soil, and water, including formaldehyde, lead, and 1,4-dioxane. His research also extends to methodological innovation and the development of evidence-based strategies for environmental and occupational health policy.
- Shintaro Hagiwara
Dr. Shintaro Hagiwara is a Risk Analyst and Statistician at Risk Sciences International (RSI), where he contributes cutting-edge statistical insight to risk assessments, particularly in chemical safety and public health. Since joining RSI’s technical team in 2018 and transitioning to a full-time role in 2023, he has applied his deep quantitative knowledge to building theoretical foundations and developing statistical software. Notably, he created the database-calibrated assessment process (DCAP) and the enhanced value-of-information (VOI) framework to aid in evidence-based regulatory decision-making, both of which have been reviewed by the board of scientific counselors (BOSC). His applied statistical work provides assessments and tools to derive PODs for chemicals such as inorganic arsenic and fluoride to support both Canadian and international regulatory bodies.
- 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.
- Douglas McNair
Since 2002, Mr. McNair has led key aspects of Cerner's Big Data operations, ensuring data quality for over 700 healthcare institutions. His role focuses on using this data for predictive models and decision-support solutions. McNair's career at Cerner began in 1986, where he co-invented Discern Expert®, a real-time decision-support engine used globally. He held positions in regulatory affairs, served as a General Manager, and worked in pharmaceutical roles. McNair is a prominent figure in mathematical modeling, AI, and health finance, with over 100 patents and numerous publications. He's also active in volunteer work and academic pursuits.
- Understanding risk
- RSI Risk Experts
- Sean Hart
With 20+ years experience in accounting and 12+ years experience in web development, I spend half of my time as a finance officer and bookkeeper. The other half of my time is spent coding, deploying, consulting and maintaining a variety of management web applications.
- Rosanna Wong
Rosanna Wong holds a B.Sc. in Environmental Science from the University of Waterloo, with diverse co-op experiences ranging from aquaculture research in the Netherlands to botany collections in Canada. She transitioned into risk analysis, initially as a Junior Analyst at Risk Sciences International, focusing on food safety and public health. Currently, she conducts research on food safety, transportation, and climate change, and leads the development of a climate resilience tool that integrates both qualitative and quantitative data.
- Ian Arnold
Dr. Arnold, a former general surgeon and occupational health consultant in Labrador and Nouveau Quebec, served Quebec Cartier Mining Ltd and the Iron Ore Company of Canada from 1973 to 1981. He has held teaching positions at various Canadian medical faculties and currently serves as an Adjunct Professor at McGill University. Dr. Arnold earned his M.D. from Queen's University in 1968 and has an extensive publication and presentation record with over 100 papers. He has received numerous honors for his contributions to occupational health and workplace psychological health and safety.
- William Leiss
Dr. William Leiss held the NSERC/SSHRC Research Chair in Risk Communication and Public Policy at the Haskayne School of Business, University of Calgary, from 1999 to 2005. He has a substantial consulting background, collaborating with industry and various Canadian government departments on risk communication, risk management, public consultation, and multi-stakeholder consensus-building processes. Dr. Leiss has provided expertise on diverse issues, including pesticides, toxic chemicals, tobacco, prescription drugs, electric & magnetic fields, and genetic engineering. He earned his PhD from the University of California at San Diego.
- 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.
- Syed A. Sattar
Dr. Sattar, with nearly five decades of research experience, specializes in microbial pathogens, their environmental influence, and safe technologies for combating infectious agents. His research delves into how pathogens survive and spread via water, food, air, waste, and surfaces. Funding for his work comes from peer-reviewed sources and research contracts. He offers expertise to national and international agencies and the private sector. With an extensive publication record and over 350 invited lectures worldwide, Dr. Sattar's contributions to the field are substantial. Notable works include the 2013 reference text "Principles and Practice of Disinfection, Preservation & Sterilization" (5th ed; Wiley-Interscience). He's received several professional honors, including the M.S. Favero Lectureship, Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Hygieia Gold Medal.
- 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.
- Food safety risk analysis tools
- Andrew Maw
Excerpt:
Andrew Maw, an Associate Expert at Risk Sciences International (RSI), specializes in digital service delivery, data-driven risk modeling, and regulatory transformation. With extensive experience as a senior executive in the Canadian federal public service, he helps clients transition to risk-based compliance models, leveraging advanced analytics, machine learning, and business transformation strategies to enhance decision-making and operational effectiveness.
- Air Quality Assessment
Safeguarding air quality is a fundamental objective of health agencies the world over. Improving our understanding of air pollutants and health requires robust evidence on exposures among vulnerable and sensitive populations, expert-based evaluation of diverse types of scientific evidence, scientifically defendable approaches to conducting weight of evidence assessments, and quantitative skills for deriving safe exposure levels.
- Application of new approach methodologies (NAMs)
RSI is well positioned to integrate NAMs into its Understanding Risk methods by aligning scientific innovation with policy realism. RSI’s teams include toxicologists, modelers, and risk analysts with experience in interpreting NAM outputs within weight-of-evidence frameworks. The firm can evaluate the appropriateness of a given NAM for a client’s specific context, help interpret model results, and document methodological decisions in a transparent and policy-ready manner. RSI’s ability to translate novel science into applied insights ensures that NAMs are used effectively and credibly in support of regulatory and advisory functions.
- Risk inventory compilation
RSI supports clients in building comprehensive and structured risk inventories, tailored to sector-specific frameworks. It uses standardized templates, taxonomies, and stakeholder input to ensure coverage and relevance. RSI’s inventories are designed for integration into ongoing risk governance and decision-support systems.
- Risk matrices
RSI designs and applies risk matrices that are customized to context-specific scales, thresholds, and decision criteria. The firm ensures consistency in scoring, clarity in definitions, and appropriate use of visual cues. RSI also provides training and validation support to ensure matrices are used as intended in client settings.
- Risk perception research
RSI integrates risk perception research into its risk characterization and communication planning. Using surveys, interviews, and focus groups, RSI captures how target audiences interpret risk framing, severity, and source credibility. These insights are used to refine messaging, anticipate resistance, and support equitable risk governance. RSI ensures that perception data is used respectfully and constructively to complement technical findings.
- Scenario development
RSI uses scenario development in strategic foresight, emergency planning, and risk prioritization projects. It co-develops scenarios with stakeholders or technical experts and tests their implications using simulation or facilitated discussion. RSI’s scenarios are decision-focused and designed to stimulate insight, dialogue, and preparedness in uncertain or rapidly changing contexts.
