The development and deployment of quantum technologies have seen an unprecedented acceleration in the last few years. It is only a matter of time before quantum computing, quantum sensing and imaging, quantum materials and quantum communication become integral part of our technological landscape. The full potential of quantum technologies will require a strong quantum internet to allow for communication of quantum information, but also to deploy a new cybersecurity framework resilient to the eventual threat of quantum computers. This novel digital framework will require a new family of hardware and software and will also impact current infrastructure. This panel will explore the opportunities and challenges of integrating quantum internet and quantum-safe cybersecurity into the 5G and 6G telecommunication infrastructure.
Martin Laforest (moderator & panelist)
Dr. Martin Laforest is the Director of Quantum Strategy for ACET Banque Nationale located in Sherbooke, Qc. He has developed a career communicating the complexity and strategic impacts of quantum technologies to key stakeholders, including government, the media, the general public and industry partners. Martin recently moved to Sherbrooke to operate an investment fund focused on quantum startups and to lend his diversified experience to the development of an ambitious quantum ecosystem. Prior to moving to Sherbrooke, Martin worked at the Institute for Quantum Computing in Waterloo as the head of scientific outreach and then joined the product management team at ISARA Corporation, a quantum-safe cybersecurity company. Martin Hold a PhD in physics and quantum computing from the University of Waterloo’s Institute for Quantum Computing.
Mike Brown (panelist)
As ISARA Corporation’s Chief Technology Officer and Co-founder, Mike Brown is focused on the technical vision and direction for ISARA Corporation. Mike was most recently the Vice President of Security Product Management and Research at BlackBerry, where he co-founded the product security practice and was responsible for the vision and execution of security for all BlackBerry products. Mike has spoken at global security events including RSA, CTIA, GTEC, Bloomberg, APECTEL and InfoSec Europe. He holds a Masters of Mathematics from the University of Waterloo, focusing on cryptography.
Marc Lyonnais (panelist)
Mr. Marc Lyonnais is the director for advanced external research network architecture programs in Ciena’s CTO group. He is currently the head of the External Ciena Research Test bed. Prior to this he was responsible for research and development of systems architecture and inter-system verification technologies. Marc previously worked for Nortel Networks in broad spectrum of optical products where he was involved in making sure network elements, met technical standards, reliability requirements, and the high possible levels of performance reliability. Over the years Mr. Lyonnais has been working with several leading NREN’s on significant break-through projects including the Advanced North Atlantic 100G submarine research network, and the SC high performance computing conferences SCinet, where he was Vice-Chair of SCinet for the SC19 conference.
Tim Spiller (panelist)
Professor Tim Spiller moved to York in 2014 as founding Director of the York Centre for Quantum Technologies. He is now also Director of the UK Quantum Communications Hub, part of the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme. Prior to this he was at the University of Leeds in the roles of Head of the Quantum Information Group and Director of Research for the School of Physics and Astronomy. Prior to 2009, Professor Spiller was Director of Quantum Information Processing (QIP) Research at HP Labs Bristol – an activity that he established in 1995 – and a Hewlett-Packard Distinguished Scientist.
He has spent around 40 years researching quantum theory, superconducting systems and quantum hardware and technologies and has published extensively across this spectrum. He led HP’s strategy on the commercialisation of QIP research, is an inventor on 25 patents linked to quantum technologies and applications, and was additionally a consultant inside HP on networking, communications and nanotechnology.
Marc Blouin (panelist)
Mr. Blouin began his studies at the University of Sherbrooke and at INRS-Energy and Materials, where he obtained his Ph.D. in 1998 on the fabrication of nanomaterials. He made a career in industrial research in the field of nanomaterials for different applications before joining the Ministère de l’Économie et de l’Innovation in 2007. He became General Director of Science and Partnerships in 2016.