John Lark
As a Risk Management Expert at RSI, John Lark brings a wealth of practical and policy-level experience to support strategic risk frameworks, enterprise-level risk reviews, and board advisory services. He contributes to RSI projects that require deep knowledge of international standards (especially ISO 31000) and risk integration into organizational governance and operations. His advisory scope spans both public and private sector clients, often at the interface of policy, compliance, and strategic foresight.
Mr. Lark’s strength lies in his ability to bridge regulatory best practices with operational realities, helping RSI clients make risk-informed decisions that hold up under both scrutiny and complexity.
Pre-RSI
John Lark is a globally recognized authority in risk governance, enterprise risk management (ERM), and strategic oversight, with over three decades of experience advising public and private organizations across Canada and internationally. His career includes leadership roles in research management, federal-provincial coordination, and high-level risk facilitation for organizations with national and global reach.
Mr. Lark has worked with an array of institutions including the Government of Canada, multiple provincial governments, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Canadian Standards Association (CSA), and the Risk Management Institution of Australasia. He also played an instrumental role in advancing international standards through his work with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), where he served as a delegate, working group leader, and team lead on several key committees shaping risk management protocols.
His contributions include organizing and facilitating Board-level risk management workshops, convening global sessions of risk leaders, and being a sought-after keynote speaker in Washington D.C., Biel (Switzerland), and multiple Australian cities including Sydney, Canberra, and Cairns. In recognition of his expertise, he was awarded the Certified Practicing Risk Manager (CPRM) designation in 2010.
Outside RSI
Mr. Lark is deeply engaged in governance and community service, currently serving as Chair of two not-for-profit Boards and holding seats on the Boards of several major Canadian charities. He recently completed the Directors Education Program, a prestigious credential jointly delivered by the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) and the Rotman School of Management, earning the ICD.D designation. This confirms his expertise in Board structures, governance obligations, and legal/regulatory compliance across sectors.
In addition to his governance credentials, Mr. Lark is the sole author of the ISO Guide to Implementing ISO 31000:2009, an internationally recognized publication released in 2016 that continues to serve as a cornerstone in the application of modern risk management principles.
