Shaukat Ali is the Head of the Department, Chief Research Scientist, and Research Professor at Simula Research Laboratory in Oslo, Norway. His research focuses on developing innovative techniques for verifying and validating classical and quantum software systems. Recently, he has been focusing on the emerging field of quantum software engineering, which includes quantum software development, testing, debugging, and repair. Moreover, his recent work has been key in establishing the foundations of quantum artificial intelligence and its real-world applications.

Charles Beyrouthy is the Founder and Managing Partner of Forma Prime. He is an Innovation Specialist and Venture Capital expert that cultivates innovation partnerships, start-up initiatives and due diligence operations. Charles has conducted research and applied innovative and novel technologies at top firms in different verticals including deep tech, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, life sciences, materials and process optimization. He was also a startup co-founder at LabCloud, a software platform dedicated to optimizing laboratory operations and logistics. Charles has worked with and collaborated with numerous startups, VC funds and signed top firms including ThermoFisher Scientific, https://amazon.com/ and Staples. He also advised firms in Healthcare and Fintech. Charles’ R&D and innovation experience includes roles at Citizens Financial Group, Brown University’s Department of Chemistry, Abbott Laboratories, Dartmouth Medical School and the Silvio O. Conte National Center for Polymer Research. Charles holds a double degree with Honors from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in Chemical Engineering and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology.

Yuval Boger is the Chief Commercial Officer of QuEra Computing, the leader in neutral-atom quantum computers. Before QuEra, he has served as CEO and CMO of frontier-tech companies from seed to NASDAQ in markets including quantum computing software, wireless power, enterprise software, and virtual reality. He is the host of the Superposition Guy’s Podcast. Yuval received a M.Sc. in Physics from Tel-Aviv University and an MBA from Northwestern University.

Steve Brierley founded Riverlane in 2016 to build the error correction stack for quantum computers. Driven by his conviction that fault-tolerant quantum computers will accelerate human progress, Riverlane partners with leading quantum hardware companies to make that happen sooner.

Steve has worked in quantum for over 20 years and is an expert advisor to the UK government. He holds a PhD in quantum information, spent a decade in the intelligence community and worked as a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge leading major research projects in quantum computing. In January 2024, Steve was awarded an OBE for his services to quantum computing.

Dr. Charles Bruce serves as Chief Innovation Officer for Mayo Clinic Florida. He also serves as the Medical Director of the Innovation Exchange. He is a practicing cardiologist, as well as a researcher, inventor, and professor of Medicine. His unique perspective into the challenges of health care delivery is shaped by his medical experiences in South Africa and the United States. Dr. Bruce is an accomplished innovator, holding more than 60 issued patents for medical inventions and was named the Mayo Clinic Distinguished Inventor in 2023.

Bob Coecke is Chief Scientist at Quantinuum, Distinguished Visiting Research Chair at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, Emeritus Fellow at Wolfson College Oxford. Previously he was Professor of Quantum Foundations, Logics and Structures at the Department of Computer Science at Oxford University, where he was 20 years, and co-founded and led a multi-disciplinary Quantum Group that grew to 50 members and he supervised close to 70 PhD students. He pioneered Categorical Quantum Mechanics (now in AMS’s MSC2020 classification), ZX-calculus, DisCoCat natural language meaning, mathematical foundations for resource theories, Quantum Natural Language Processing, and DisCoCirc natural language meaning. He co-authored Picturing Quantum Processes and Quantum in Pictures. He was the first person to have Quantum Foundations as part of his academic title. He received the IEEE LiCS test-of-time award.

Ismael Faro is the Vice President of Quantum Services and Data at IBM. Ismael Faro serves as the Vice President of Quantum Services and Data at IBM Research, where he has been recognized as a Distinguished Engineer for his significant technical contributions. In 2016, Faro played a pivotal role in architecting the IBM Quantum Experience, the world’s first public Quantum Cloud platform. He is also renowned as one of the original contributors to Qiskit, the open-source quantum computing software development framework.

In his current role, Faro leads the development of Quantum Cloud services and middleware that bridge classical and quantum computation. He spearheads strategic initiatives at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Quantum computing, with recent projects focusing on harnessing AI to optimize critical components of the quantum software stack.
Faro’s team is at the forefront of defining and integrating next-generation Quantum and High-Performance Computing (HPC) architectures. Their work is instrumental in advancing the field of quantum computing and its practical applications in research and industry.

Doug Finke is the Chief Content Officer for Global Quantum Intelligence (GQI), a leader in business intelligence focused on the quantum industry. GQI was formed as a merger between three quantum analyst organizations including the Quantum Computing Report (QCR), which Doug founded in 2015. Previously, Doug was employed in the computer, semiconductor, and storage industries for over 30 years where he helped drive the growth of many new technologies during this period. Doug has served as the Chief Operating Officer of the startup company, IntelliSense and helped sell the company at a valuation of $750 million. As Vice-President of Marketing and Business Development at the semiconductor startup ChipWrights, Doug helped raise $25 million in venture capital funding. Other important firms for whom Doug has worked include IBM, Intel, and HGST/Western Digital. Doug holds degrees in computer engineering and management from the University of Illinois and MIT, respectively.

Lawrence Gasman is the founder and President of Inside Quantum Technology. He has authored industry analysis reports on quantum key distribution, quantum computing, quantum networks, and quantum sensors and numerous studies on high-speed interfaces for high-performance computers. He also served on a panel at the Q2B conference in 2017; the first ever business-oriented quantum computing conference. Lawrence has been tracking commercialization of new technologies for 35 years and has written four books in this area. His consulting work has included both major multinationals and high-tech start-ups as clients and he has also carried out due diligence work for investment banks, venture capitalists and leading management consulting firms.

Troy serves as a Senior Research Analyst with expertise in high-growth technology stocks. He has over two decades of equity research experience following sectors such as 3D printing, unmanned aircraft, robotics, optical components, networking equipment, and RFID. Before joining Lake Street, Troy was a Senior Research Analyst at Piper Sandler for 15 years. He also worked at ThinkEquity Partners and RBC Capital Markets. Prior to his career in equity research, he worked as a Futures and Options Administrator at Cargill and spent six years in the Navy. Troy earned a BA degree from the University of Minnesota – Carlson School of Management. He is a CFA charterholder.

Since joining Amgen R&D in 2018, Zoran Krunic has been at the forefront of applying Machine Learning to enhance patient outcomes and streamline clinical trial enrollment processes, utilizing comprehensive Electronic Health Records and clinical datasets. His pioneering work in the Quantum Machine Learning space, in collaboration with IBM’s Quantum team, has been instrumental in integrating machine learning with quantum computing through IBM’s Qiskit platform, as it was presented in the paper: “Quantum Kernels for Real-World Predictions Based on Electronic Health Records”: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/9779984. Most recently, he co-authored his second paper in quantum computing in collaboration with QuEra: “Robust Quantum Reservoir Computing for Molecular Property Prediction”: https://arxiv.org/html/2412.06758v1.

Building on these foundations, Zoran has broadened his research scope to deepen the study of quantum kernels, scrutinizing their effects on the variability and reproducibility of small clinical datasets. Additionally, he has launched several innovative projects within the quantum computing sphere. These initiatives go beyond quantum kernels, delving into various facets of Quantum Machine Learning (QML) and the wider Quantum Computing disciplines, all aimed at advancing the integration of Quantum Computing within pharmacology.

Prior to his tenure at Amgen, Zoran developed Machine Learning algorithms at Optum to predict hardware and software failures within complex enterprise architectures. He has a strong background in data engineering and systems development, having contributed significantly to large-scale projects at renowned organizations such as Capital Group and ARCO Petroleum.

In his current full and part-time endeavors, Zoran is leading the efforts in embracing generative AI technologies, with a particular focus on OpenAI’s GPT and Anthropic’s Claude models. His work is focused on prompt engineering and its application to code generation, advanced document analysis, and process management, with a commitment to ethical AI practices and data privacy. Most recently, the work has expanded to include reproducibility and the potential for auto-labeling using generative AI.

A recognized voice in quantum computing circles, Zoran is a regular presenter at industry conferences and has served on numerous panels discussing the integration of quantum computing and generative AI within the Health Sciences sector, with a firm belief that the integration of these new technologies will be deep and comprehensive.

With a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, Zoran continues to explore and contribute to the evolving relationship between quantum computing and artificial intelligence, fostering groundbreaking advancements in healthcare technology.

Anthony (Tony) Lawrence is a visionary leader and quantum technologist, serving as the CEO of Light Rider Inc., a quantum computing company at the forefront of quantum algorithm development, cryptography, and quantum-powered infrastructure. With a background rooted in military intelligence and cyber defense, Tony has emerged as a trailblazer in quantum software development, designing platforms that bridge theory and deployment for real-world impact.

Under his leadership, Light Rider has launched a suite of advanced quantum technologies including:

• CatChat – an AI user interface that acts as an operating system for quantum computers; Synthetic data repositories for Text, Images & Video, Audio, Sensor Data, and User Behavior Data
• QPasswords – a credential vault that leverages quantum entropy from Rigetti QPU’s & QVM’s to generate unbreakable authentication keys and passwords
• Quantum Light – a next-generation Quantum Random Number Generator (QRNG) integrated with LIFI transmission for ultra-secure wireless communications.

Tony’s technical contributions span quantum algorithm design, QRNG entropy validation, QAOA optimization, and hybrid quantum-classical machine learning. He has hands-on development experience with Quil, Q#, pyQuil, Qiskit, and Azure Quantum, with deployment across Rigetti QPUs and AWS Braket. He has advanced error mitigation techniques for NISQ-era systems, including readout noise suppression and entanglement entropy modeling.

A recognized advocate for open source innovation, Tony collaborates closely with leading academic institutions, government agencies, and emerging quantum startups, mentoring the next generation of quantum engineers, influencing policy, and shaping the future of quantum software development. Whether architecting entropy-hardened security protocols or engineering quantum-enhanced optimization algorithms, Tony Lawrence is at the forefront of a new computational era; where photons, qubits, and ultra-fast logic converge to redefine the foundations of digital trust.

Dr. Stefan Leichenauer is the Vice President of Engineering and lead scientist at SandboxAQ. Stefan joined the Sandbox team at Alphabet as its first employee to bring AI and Quantum technologies to real-world applications, initiating all of the projects that have become the SandboxAQ product portfolio. He recruited teams of engineers and scientists to further develop the SandboxAQ products and became head of Research and Engineering, overseeing all of their projects. Today, he drives all product development at SandboxAQ. Stefan is also the bridge between the engineering and business/strategy divisions of SandboxAQ and works closely with the partnerships team to craft external engagements.

Stefan received his Ph.D. in Physics from UC Berkeley and has held positions in Physics at UC Berkeley and Caltech as a leading researcher. He maintains a close connection with academia through the SandboxAQ Ph.D. Residency and Postdoc programs.

Wil is founder and CEO of Anametric, a quantum photonic cybersecurity-focused startup in Austin, TX.

After receiving his Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering, Mathematics, and Computer Science from University of North Carolina in 1987, Wil moved from academia to Apple’s Advanced Technologies Group in Cupertino CA, where he worked on mixed-signal IC designs for personal computer use. In 1995, he joined the Apple/IBM/Motorola Design Center in Austin, TX, where he was part of the team that produced several generations of PowerPC CPU designs. After Apple, Wil joined LifeSize Communications, where he led a small team of engineers to design and ship several ground-breaking products within 18 months from the day that he joined the company. LifeSize was acquired by multimedia giant Logitech in 2009.

After LifeSize, Wil founded Rubicon Labs, Inc. and spent the next dozen years developing Rubicon’s ground-breaking Zero-Knowledge IoT security platform.

Wil left Rubicon in 2017 to found Anametric. Anametric works closely with teams at Southern Methodist University in Dallas TX, the Air Force Research Lab in Rome NY and the Army Research Lab in Adelphi MD, to design and build cutting-edge, dual-use quantum photonic systems. Wil is the holder of 49 issued US patents and has many more still pending.

Marco Paini is VP Finance Solutions at Rigetti Computing and focuses on the growth of Rigetti’s financial services practice, including the continued development of proprietary solutions, of an expert team, and of impactful partnerships with finance institutions. Marco has also recently been managing the programme to build the first commercial quantum computer in the UK, a collaboration led by Rigetti and sponsored by Innovate UK with Oxford Instruments, Phasecraft, the University of Edinburgh and Standard Chartered.

Marco previously led quantum computing applications portfolio development of QxBranch, a quantum computing software company acquired by Rigetti in 2019. Prior to QxBranch, Marco spent more than eighteen years with Accenture, where he held several roles in technology. In the last part of his career with Accenture, Marco oversaw the AI ecosystem and the development of the quantum computing offering for the Accenture UKI Financial Services Technology Advisory practice.

Marco studied physics at the University of Pavia, where he collaborated with the Quantum Information Theory Group of the University of Pavia.

Dr. Bob Sutor has been a technical leader and executive in the computer and DeepTech industry for over 40 years. He is a theoretical mathematician by training, with a Ph.D. from Princeton University and an undergraduate degree from Harvard College.

Bob’s industry role is to advance AI and quantum technologies by providing strategic and technical insight to help build strong business, partner, technical, and educational ecosystems. His singular goal is to evolve AI and quantum to help solve some of the critical computational problems facing businesses and society today. Bob is widely quoted in the press, delivers conference keynotes, and appears in the media. He is the author of a popular Quantum and AI newsletter on LinkedIn and Substack.

Dr. Sutor is the CEO and Founder of Sutor Group Intelligence and Advisory. He helps clients and investors understand sophisticated technologies such as AI and quantum computing and use them effectively to succeed in their organizations and industries. As an author and communicator, Bob helps clients bring their messages to current and potential customers in clear, powerful, and impactful ways.

Dr. Sutor is also an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Buffalo, New York, USA.

Bob spent over two decades at the IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center in Yorktown Heights, New York. During his time there, he worked on or led efforts in AI, quantum computing, optimization, mathematical software, and blockchain. As the Vice President for Mathematical Sciences at IBM, Dr. Sutor oversaw AI projects for clients in the agricultural, energy, financial services, food, healthcare, insurance, and oil and gas industries. He was also an executive on the software side of the IBM business in areas including IBM Websphere middleware, software on Linux, mobile, open source, and emerging industry standards.

He was the Vice President of Corporate Development and, later, Chief Quantum Advocate at Infleqtion, a quantum computing and sensing company based in Boulder, Colorado, USA. Bob was the Vice President and Practice Lead for Emerging Technologies at The Futurum Group.

Dr. Sutor is the author of the 2019 quantum computing book Dancing with Qubits. Dancing with Qubits, Second Edition, was published in March 2024 and includes new chapters on NISQ algorithms and quantum machine learning. Bob is also the author of the 2021 book Dancing with Python, an introduction to Python coding for classical, quantum, and AI computing.

Dr. Sutor’s full resume is at available online and is suitable for printing.

Areas in which he’s worked: quantum computing, AI, blockchain, mathematics and mathematical software, Linux, open source, standards management, product management and marketing, computer algebra, and web standards.

Dr. Arman Zaribafiyan, head of product for AI Simulation platforms at SandboxAQ, is the founder and former CEO of Good Chemistry (acquired by SandboxAQ), the Vancouver-based software start-up combining cloud, AI and quantum computing to re-imagine the design and synthesis of new materials. Before founding Good Chemistry, he was the CTO at quantum software company 1QBit. Over the last decade, Arman has directed strategic partnerships and cutting-edge research and development collaborations with Fortune 100 companies such as Dow, Biogen, Mercedes Benz, AWS, Microsoft, and IBM in various roles as a technology and product leader. He received his PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from UBC, focusing on quantum information science, and he was the recipient of a prestigious Mitacs fellowship for his research on hybrid quantum computing.