Elderly man in a suit, smiling.

Richard Rusiniak

Co-Founder & Director, CanaQuest Medical Corp.



Richard Rusiniak is a seasoned engineering executive and technology innovator with over 35 years of experience in advanced materials, process engineering, and biotechnology. As Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of CanaQuest Medical Corp, Mr. Rusiniak brings a strong interdisciplinary background in mechanical engineering and applied R&D to support the company’s mission of advancing next-generation cannabinoid-based therapies for neurological and mental health disorders.

Since co-founding CanaQuest in 2008, Mr. Rusiniak has held several executive roles, including CEO (2008–2022), and has been instrumental in driving the company’s transformation into a clinical-stage life sciences firm focused on evidence-based cannabinoid research and drug development. His leadership has been central to the development of CQ-001, CanaQuest’s flagship API formulation, combining cannabidiol and omega-3 fatty acids to enhance neuroprotective efficacy and tolerability.

Prior to CanaQuest, Mr. Rusiniak was the Co-Founder, President, CFO, and CTO of Cymat Technologies Ltd. (TSX: CYM), where he played a pivotal role in commercializing stabilized aluminum foam (SAF) technology. Under his leadership, Cymat achieved a peak market valuation of $200 million in 2002. He successfully negotiated a global manufacturing license with Alcan International Ltd., led the company through a $10 million government-funded R&D initiative under Industry Canada’s Technology Partnerships Canada (TPC) program, and helped raise over $25 million in institutional financing. Earlier in his career, Mr. Rusiniak held project management positions at Long Manufacturing and the Ontario Research Foundation (Ortech). He consulted on several high-profile engineering projects, including NASA’s Zero Gravity Program, Atomic Energy of Canada’s Re-Tubing Program, and the Bi-Level GO Train Modularization initiative led by Hawker Siddeley.

A mechanical engineer by training, Mr. Rusiniak is known for his technical rigor, operational leadership, and ability to scale early-stage technologies into commercially viable platforms. His engineering acumen and cross-sector experience continue to shape CanaQuest’s innovation roadmap and formulation development programs.