Speakers bios

Building a Connected Quantum Community in Latin America

Catalina Albornoz Anzola
IBM Quantum Ambassador / Cognitive Infrastructure SpecialistIBM

Catalina is an IBM Quantum Ambassador and cognitive infrastructure specialist, who is passionate about innovation and sustainability. She has experience as a cross-brand architect at IBM, as a project manager for energy efficiency projects, and research on algorithm design for autonomous vehicles and smart farming. Catalina is a mechanical and electronics engineer, and MSc in electronics and control systems.

Carolina Allende
Professor & Researcher – Universidad ORT Uruguay

Carolina is a professor and researcher at Universidad ORT Uruguay where she got her B.Eng. in Electronics. She has been researching in quantum computing for over 2 years, having studied quantum decoherence in the past but now mainly working in developing hybrid machine learning algorithms for quantum problems. In her spare time she is a science communication advocate who tries to bring quantum computing to general audience, as well as participating in workshops for girls in electronics, which try to narrow the gender gap.

Marcos Allende López
IT Specialist in Quantum Technologies, Blockchain, and SSI – Banco Inter-Americano de Desarrollo y LACChain

Marcos Allende is the Technical Leader of LACChain, the regional blockchain program for Latin America and the Caribbean led by the IDB Lab. At the same time, Marcos works as IT Specialist at the Inter-American Development Bank, where he leads a team of experts in blockchain, quantum technologies and self-sovereign digital identity. A quantum physicist by training, he has specialised in the use of emerging technologies for development.

Carlos J. Barrios
Associate Professor – Universidad Industrial de Santander

Director High Performance and Scientific Computing Center – UIS SC3UIS
General ChairAdvanced Computing System for Latin America and Caribbean, SCALAC

Professor Barrios is Doctor in Computer Science of Université de Nice-Côte d’Azur, Master in Applied Mathematics and Informatics from Université de Grenoble – Alpes, both in France and Systems Engineering of the Universidad Industrial de Santander in Colombia. Researcher in advanced and disruptive computing, he works on different issues related with non-Von Neumann computer architectures, from performance evaluation to parallelism and applications. Precisely, the interest in quantum computing is from computer science vision searching for real implementation of real applications in the face of quantum parallelism. He is Senior Member of ACM and IEEE. 

Jean Phillip Bernier
Co-Founder – AnniQ

CEO – Spin Quantum Tech

Entrepreneur by conviction, passionate about disruptive technologies and exact sciences, applying them to solve needs and opportunities in business models. He currently has 20 years of experience in artificial intelligence solutions and more than 7 years researching quantum computing algorithms. He is currently the CEO of Bernier Group and leads the technology projects of AnniQ and Spin Quantum Tech.

Rodolfo Bonnin
Co-innovation Data Engineer – Bonzzu

Rodolfo is a Machine Learning published author, speaker, and technology expert, starting in 2008 building Convolutional Neural Networks running in the GPU, and then building Machine Learning solutions during the later Deep Learning era. During the last years, Rodolfo has been applying Quantum algorithms and frameworks for the solution of logistic and fraud detection problems while acting as IT Manager at Mercadolibre, the largest marketplace in Latin America, and is currently expanding the studies to a broader range of problems in the field, including Quantum Annealing for route optimizations. As a Speaker, Rodolfo has delivered Machine Learning and Quantum introductory and intermediate talks at many locations around the world, including Nvidia Developers Day, PyCon Italia, PyData London, Cordoba, San Luis, and Los Angeles, and more recently at the global Quantum.Tech event.

Samurai Brito
Researcher Partner
International Institute of Physics – UFRN

Samuraí Brito is a Quantum Technologies researcher and is interested in Quantum Computing, Quantum Communication, Quantum Internet, Quantum Random Number Generators, Post-quantum Cryptography, Quantum Key Distribution and more.  She has a PhD in physics, working on Statistical Mechanics and Complex Networks. In the past four years she acted as a postdoc researcher in quantum information theory. In January of this year she joined the Emerging Technologies Team at Itaú. She is also interested in creating educational material to disseminate knowledge of the quantum world to everyone, regardless of academic background.

Ernesto Campos
PhD Student – Skoltech

Ernesto studied industrial physical engineering and has a master’s degree in computer science at the Tecnológico de Monterrey where he focused on quantum information. He is currently studying for a doctorate in physics at the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology in Moscow, where he focuses on the study of variational quantum algorithms.

David Cardona
COO & General Counsel – Strangeworks

David Cardona is a lawyer with a history of working in the computer software industry as a Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel. He is currently a co-founder and the Chief Operating Officer of Strangeworks, a quantum computing startup in Austin, Texas. Prior to Strangeworks, he was a Vice President at Goldman Sachs. He came to Goldman Sachs via the acquisition of Honest Dollar, a financial services startup where he served as General Counsel.

Genaro Costa
HPC Expert – ATOS

Genaro Costa work as HPC Expert / Project Manager at Atos Bull, coordinating Atos R&D Labs at SENAI-CIMATEC center. He was Adjunct Professor at UFBA, coordinator of the Interdisciplinary Bachelor’s in Science and Technology course and vice-director of the Institute of Humanities Arts and Sciences Professor Milton Santos. Graduated in Computer Science from UCSal, Master and PhD in Informatics from Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona (UAB). He managed several innovation projects through partnership between academia and industry. He is interested in research in High Performance Computing, Machine Learning, Big Data, Performance Models, Prescriptive Analytics and Quantum Computing.

Tom Crabtree
Business Development Manager – KETS Quantum

Tom has spent the last seven years working for international corporations in Business Development teams around the UK and Ireland. Using his experience and skills gained in the Finance, Construction and Logistics sectors, Tom is now helping KETS bring on-chip Quantum Key Distribution and high performance Quantum Random Number Generation from the laboratory into the real world.

Andrea Delgado
Research Scientist – Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Andrea is a research scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in the U.S. Andrea obtained her Ph.D. in Particle Physics from Texas A&M University. During her Ph.D., Andrea worked on developing algorithms and tools to analyze experimental data from the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). During this time, Andrea spent time at two of the largest laboratories for experimental high-energy physics globally, Fermilab and CERN. After finishing her Ph.D., Andrea joined the neutrino physics group at ORNL, where she developed tools for applying machine learning techniques to the search of reactor antineutrinos. Shortly after, Andrea was awarded the prestigious Eugene P. Wigner Fellowship to investigate quantum computing applications to high-energy physics. Andrea has also organized several workshops on quantum computing, including a workshop on Applied Artificial Intelligence at the IEEE Quantum Week in 2020 and 2021 and the first workshop on quantum computing applications to high-energy physics. In addition, Andrea collaborates with scientists at MIT, Caltech, and CERN to develop quantum algorithms and software tools with applications limited to physics and climate change, and material science. Andrea is also interested in promoting an inclusive research environment and representation of minorities in STEM. She is currently the chair of Women in Physical Sciences at ORNL and leads several diversity and inclusion efforts in the US and Mexico.

Alejandro Díaz-Caro
Professor – Universidad Nacional de Quilmes

CONICET Researcher – Universidad de Buenos Aires

Alejandro Díaz-Caro is Professor at Universidad Nacional de Quilmes (UNQ) and CONICET Researcher at Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA). He got his PhD from Université de Grenoble, France, and did post-docs and lectures at Université Paris-Nord, Université Paris-Ouest, INRIA, and Università di Torino. He currently leads the team LoReL at UNQ, which focuses on the foundations of programming languages, and the LDPL team of the Franco-Argentine International Laboratory SINFIN. He is also one of the founders of the QuICC team on Quantum Computation, Information, and Communication at UBA. Díaz-Caro is a pioneer in the study of the foundations of programming languages with quantum control, having made multiple contributions to the field ranging from the syntactic study of these languages, through logical models, categorical models, and computational models. From Argentina, he has active research projects with collaborators at Uruguay, Chile, Brazil, Paraguay and France, funded by these countries.

Eduardo Inacio Duzzioni
Professor of Physics – Department of Physics of the Federal University of Santa Catarina

CTO – QuanBy Quantum Computing

Eduardo holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Physics from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (2001), a Master’s in Physics from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (2003), a Ph.D. from the Federal University of São Carlos (2007), and a post-doctorate from the Federal University of ABC (2007- 2008). He has experience in Physics, with an emphasis on Quantum Physics; acting mainly in the following subjects: quantum optics, quantum computing, and quantum information. He is currently Associate Professor in the Department of Physics at the Federal University of Santa Catarina and deputy coordinator of the Graduate Program in Physics. Since 2018 is CTO of QuanBy Quantum Computing, based in Florianópolis – Brazil, being responsible for quantum computing training courses and the development of quantum algorithms for commercial applications.

José Ignacio Espinoza Camacho
MSc StudentTecnológico de Monterrey / The Unconventional Computing Lab

José Ignacio studied mechanical engineering at the Tecnológico de Monterrey where
he is studying the master’s degree in Nanotechnology. His work focuses on Quantum
Machine Learning and Quantum Image Processing.

Marta Pascual Estarellas
Senior Quantum Engineer – Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech

Marta has recently completed her postdoc assignment at the Global Research Center for Quantum Information Science at the National Institute of Informatics in Tokyo. She completed her PhD in Physics at the York Centre for Quantum Technologies (University of York, UK). Her background spans different fields, with a BSc in Chemistry, a MSc in Physical-Chemistry, an Engineer’s Degree in Computer Engineering (focus in Computer Architecture and Networks), and an inter-university European Master’s in Theoretical Quantum Chemistry and Computational Modelling.

Nicolas Fabre
PostDoc Researcher – Center of New Technologies, Warsaw University

Nicolas Fabre completed his Physics MSc at Sorbonne University and Ecole normale supérieure of Paris, and he has received his PhD in quantum optics in 2020 at Paris University under the supervision of Perola Milman and Arne Keller. Since 2021, he is following his postdoctoral studies at Center of New Technologies affiliated with Warsaw University in Poland. Nicolas Fabre’s main interests are the use of time-frequency continuous variables degree of freedom of single-photon for quantum computing and metrology, especially the use of micro-comb states. He is also interested in phase space methods in quantum optics and modular variables.

Rodrigo Ferreira
Co-Founder / MSc Student – Brazil Quantum / Aeronautics Institute of Technology

Rodrigo Ferreira co-founded Brazil Quantum in June 2020.
He’s an Aerospace Engineering undergrad student at the Aeronautics
Institute of Technology and will start his Physics Masters program next
semester. Ferreira’s research focuses on solving differential equations
via quantum algorithms. He is also currently attending the IQC’s School
on Experimental Quantum Information Processing, from the University
of Waterloo.

Laura Gatti Dorpich
Director of Development – Quantum South

ProfessorUniversidad de Montevideo

PhD candidate from the Polytechnic University of Madrid. Laura’s main field of study is discrete sets of gates for quantum computing. She is the co-founder of Quantum-South, a quantum computing spin-off of University of Montevideo founded in 2019 in Uruguay. Quantum-South develops quantum software for cargo solutions.  Laura is also interested in development and technological change and is trying to figure out how quantum computing could be an open door to the future for developing countries.

Antonio Tadeu A. Gomes
Researcher – National Laboratory for Scientific Computing (LNCC)

Antônio Tadeu A. Gomes is a researcher at the National Laboratory for Scientific Computing (LNCC), Brazil. He is head of the Innovative Parallel finite Element Solvers (IPES) Research Group, executive officer of the Brazilian National System for High-Performance Computing (SINAPAD), and coordinator of the Steering Committee of the Santos Dumont supercomputing facility (SDumont). He received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Brazil, in 2005. His main research areas are in computer networks, distributed systems, high-performance computing, and software architecture. He is a member of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and the Brazilian Computer Society (SBC).

Jesus Gutierrez
Head of Data Management Technology – Citibanamex

The engineer Jesús Antonio Gutiérrez Franco is Head of Data Management Technology at Citibanamex. He studied the career of Computer Systems Engineer at the Technological University of Mexico, in addition to having studies in Psychology by the UNAM and Mathematics at the UNADM. He has more than 10 years of professional experience in Information Technology and 6 years in the field of advanced data management and analysis. He has recently dabbled in quantum technologies on platforms such as the IBM Quantum Experience Cloud and GCP with Google’s Cirq researching Quantum Machine Learning techniques and data life cycle management on hybrid platforms (classical and quantum technologies).

Victor Gutierrez Martinez
President of the Research, Development and Innovation Commission – Business Coordinating Council (CCE)

Víctor A. Gutiérrez Martínez is a Computer Systems Engineer and Master of Science from the Technological Institute of Mérida. He is currently the CEO of Plenumsoft, the organization with the most patent applications in the Mexican southeast, specialized in innovation mainly by embedding knowledge in software.
From 2002 to 2008, he served as Executive President of the Information Technology Industry Council of Yucatán A.C., period in which he obtained great recognition for being the founder of the first Information Technology Center in the country, in the City of Mérida, in 2004. From 2013 to 2016, he served as the National President of the National Chamber of the Electronics, Telecommunications and Information Technologies Industry (CANIETI). During his tenure as President of CANIETI, proposals and consensus were formulated for the Constitutional Reform in the field of Telecommunications. He has participated in multiple events both in Mexico and abroad promoting the development and growth of the ICT sector, among which the consultations to the preparation of the National Development Plan, its participation in the Information Technologies Advisory Council of the Ministry of Economy, and in the Intersectoral Committee for Innovation of the same agency.
Among his contributions as National President of CANIETI, it is important to mention the impulse for the creation of the HEURISTIC Innovation Centre and for the creation of the First Public and Bilingual University of ICT in Mexico, as well as the INNOVATIC virtual chair to train innovative talent.
His leadership in state-of-the-art technological issues has led him to occupy the following positions of national relevance: President of the Research, Development and Innovation Commission of the Business Coordinating Council (CCE), President of the Innovation and Technology Commission for the Competitiveness, and Vice President of High Technology Ecosystem and Creative Industries, of the Confederation of Industrial Chambers of the United Mexican States (CONCAMIN), Vice President of Innovation and Technology of the Confederation of National Chambers of Commerce, Services and Tourism (CONCANACO SERVYTUR).

Karen Hallberg
Principal Researcher – CONICET

Professor – Balseiro Institute

Professor Karen Hallberg holds a PhD in Physics from the Balseiro Institute in Bariloche. She is Principal Researcher of the Argentine Council for Science and Technology working at the Bariloche Atomic Center and is a Professor at the Balseiro Institute. Her research topics include the development of state-of-the-art computational approaches to understand the physics of quantum matter and nanoscopic systems. She is actively committed to reducing the gender gap and increasing awareness of ethical considerations in science.
She was awarded several prizes and recognitions such as the 2019 L’Oreal-UNESCO International Award For Women in Science (for Latin America), honorary doctorates at the National University of Jujuy and at the University Siglo XXI, Honorary Fellowship of the IAEA Marie Sklodowska Curie Fellowship, the 2005 Guggenheim Fellowship and was an Aspen Ideas Festival Scholar and several honorary mentions awarded by the Argentine Congress (upper and lower chambers).
She is currently a Council member of the Pugwash Conferences for Science and World Affairs (1995 Peace Nobel Prize), International Councillor of the American Physical Society, member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Quantum Applications, member of the Directory of the Bunge and Born Foundation, member of the Argentine Committee for Ethics in Science and Technology, corresponding member of the Argentine Academy for Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences, member of the Latin American Academy of Sciences, Senior Associate of the International Center for Theoretical Physics in Trieste, and member of the Editorial Board of Physical Review Research (American Physical Society).

Mark Jackson
Quantum EvangelistCambridge Quantum Computing

Dr. Mark Jackson is the Quantum Evangelist at Cambridge Quantum Computing. He received his B.S. in Physics and Mathematics from Duke University and Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics from Columbia University. He then spent 10 years researching superstring theory and cosmology, co-authoring almost 40 technical articles. To promote the public understanding of science, he founded the science crowdfunding platform Fiat Physica and non-profit Science Partnership Fund. He is Adjunct Faculty at Singularity University and a Director of Astronomers Without Borders.

Antoine (Jack) Jacquier (personal page)
Reader in Mathematics and Director MSc in Mathematics & Finance – Imperial College London

Visiting Researcher – Alan Turing Institute

Dr Jacquier is an applied Mathematician working at the interface of Stochastic Analysis, Statistics, Numerical Methods and Quantitative Finance. He holds a PhD in Mathematics from Imperial College London and has published more than 50 research papers as well as one book. His research expertise focuses on volatility modelling in Mathematical Finance, asymptotic analysis and recently on applications of Quantum Computing in Finance. He is the Director of the MSc in Mathematics and Finance at Imperial College London, where interactions between academic research and applications are at work on a daily basis.

Sonika Johri 
Senior Quantum Applications Researcher IonQ

Sonika Johri is a Senior Quantum Applications Researcher at IonQ, a company commercializing trapped ion quantum computers. Her research centres around translating the rapidly expanding capabilities of quantum hardware into measurable advantages for end users of quantum computing.  She leads IonQ’s efforts in developing applications for current and near future generations of quantum computers. She has co-authored several publications involving cutting-edge quantum algorithm demonstrations in the areas of generative and discriminative machine learning, condensed matter physics, quantum chemistry, and optimization, across a variety of quantum hardware platforms. Her work emphasizes the co-design of quantum algorithms, software, control, and hardware in order to come up with practical and scalable solutions that are aimed at making quantum technologies highly impactful as soon as possible. Prior to IonQ, she worked as a quantum algorithms researcher at Intel Corporation. She has a PhD in theoretical condensed matter physics from Princeton University.

Christophe Jurczak
Founding Partner – Quantonation

Christophe is a founding partner at Quantonation, the first Venture Capital Fund dedicated to Quantum Technologies and Deep Physics with 13 companies in the portfolio as of June 2021. Christophe is an associate at Creative Destruction Lab in Toronto (Canada) and a mentor at the Duality incubator in Chicago (USA). He is chairman of not for profit Le Lab Quantique that is supporting the emergence of a quantum industry in France, in association with quantum ecosystems worldwide. Christophe holds a PhD in Quantum Physics from Ecole Polytechnique (with Prof A. Aspect), a MSc from Ecole Polytechnique and Ecole Normale Supérieure.

André König
CEO – Interference Advisors

André is a published author, speaker and expert on DeepTech with 25 years of Fortune 500, consulting and startup experience. He is the CEO of Interference Advisors, the premier data provider within Quantum Tech, Chairman of OneQuantum, the leading Quantum Tech community organization, and Managing Partner of Entanglement Capital, a Quantum Tech investment fund and startup accelerator.
He studied Quantum Computing at MIT (certificates) and holds a MBA in Economics from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business as well as a Masters in Business from ICN School of Management. He speaks English, German and French, and has competed in national small boat sailing championships.

Rebecca Krauthamer
Founder & CPO – QuSecure

Rebecca Krauthamer is the Founder and CEO of Quantum Thought as well as Founder and Chief Product Officer at QuSecure. She is very active in the quantum computing community, serving on the Global Futures Council on Quantum Computing for the World Economic Forum and was recently named among the 12 Women Shaping Quantum Computing. A recent Forbes 30 under 30 honoree in the category of science, she also serves on the advisory board of the AI Ethics Journal, is a member of the Newsweek Expert Forum, acts as an advisor to SheQuantum, and is a frequent speaker on quantum computing and technology ethics. Rebecca holds a BS in Symbolic Systems from Stanford University. Previously she founded Neural Edge Inc, where as its CTO, she built an advanced AI software platform for sales enablement.

Daniel Ley
Senior Vice President – D-Wave

Daniel Ley’s career spans over 25 years in technology, technology sales, sales management and executive leadership. During this time, he has focused on solving complex operational problems applying technologies he has been involved with. At D-Wave Daniel is leading the Go To Market efforts and technology adoption of the practical application of quantum computing.
Prior to joining D-Wave, Daniel was Vice President of Global Sales for the Routing Optimization and Assurance product line at Ciena, and Senior Vice President of Global Sales at Packet Design (Acquired by Ciena), in this capacity he spent 8 years working with large telecommunications companies on the use advanced routing analytics to solve complex operational problems. Before that, Daniel was Vice President of Solution Sales at CA Technologies, Vice President of Sales at Hyperformix (acquired by CA) and had held leadership roles in other technology companies.
Daniel began his career in avionics engineering at the Hughes Aircraft Company. He holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from California State University, Los Angeles, and a MS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California.

Enrique Lizaso
Founder & MD – Multiverse Computing

Mathematician. PhD. Professor at the University of Vic. Professor of Finance, UAB. IT Specialist. Medical doctor. MBA from IESE Business School. More than 20 years in the financial industry. Ex-CEO of Unnim Bank. Quantitative analyst. Founder of startups in Blockchain and International Health. President of the Quantum for Quants commission (of the Quantum World Association). Mechatronics Engineering Professor.

Robert Loredo 
Technical Business Development Lead / IBM Quantum Ambassador / Qiskit AdvocateIBM Quantum

Robert Loredo is the IBM Quantum Technical Ambassador Worldwide lead, Qiskit Advocate, and Master Inventor. He holds over 180 patents and has presented various workshops, lectures, and articles covering; artificial intelligence, bioinformatics, and quantum computing. He holds a Bachelors and Masters degree in Computer and Electrical Engineering from the University of Miami and is currently pursuing his PhD in Machine Learning and Quantum NeuroInformatics. He devotes much of his free time to philanthropy – contributing and volunteering to his community. Robert is dedicating 100% of the royalties from this book, «Learn Quantum Computing with Python and IBM Quantum Experience» to one of his favorite charities, Doctors Without Borders.

Maximiliano Maneiro
Manager of Emerging TechnologiesAGESIC

Maximiliano Maneiro is the Manager of Emerging Technologies of AGESIC, the agency of the Presidency of the Republic responsible for promoting the development of the digital government and the information society in Uruguay. Maximiliano leads the team in charge of identifying and evaluating emerging technologies, developing use cases, and generating recommendations for their application in the digital government strategies of the Uruguayan State. Before occupying this position, he was in charge of the design and implementation of the private cloud of the Presidency of the Republic, as a reference solution for the central administration. Prior to AGESIC, he worked as a consultant for technology companies, in the area of infrastructure and virtualization.

Emily Meads
Deep Tech AnalystSpeedinvest

Emily is a Physicist by training, and is passionately supporting Deep Tech companies, the Deep Tech ecosystem, and the commercialisation of academically inclined start-ups. Quantum Technologies have been a personal and professional focus of hers over the past couple of years, and within this space she strives to provide scientific credibility to the VC side of the table, in order to best support founders on their journey to create key enabling technologies. Beyond the creation of companies in the space, she keeps close tabs on public and private funding in Quantum, the development of a suitable workforce in the ecosystem, the creation of communities in the sector, and continues her quantum learning journey every day.

Sagarika Mukesh
Hardware Engineer – IBM Research

Sagarika Mukesh is a hardware engineer in the Hybrid Cloud pillar of IBM Research. She received her PhD from Georgia Institute of Technology in electrical and computer engineering in 2018. She completed her Master’s in embedded electronics from ESIGELEC, France in 2014, and her Bachelor’s from Manipal Institute of Technology in 2011. She’s a quantum enthusiast and has been working with the Qiskit Metal team since August 2020.

Sergio Nesmachnow
Full Professor and Researcher – Universidad de la Republica

High Performance Computing, Optimization, Metaheuristics, Smart Cities.

Andres Paz
Principal Software Developer – Microsoft

Andrés Paz is a Principal Software Developer at Microsoft. He has many years of experience working on everything a (classical) computer can do: from high-performance compilers to large scale systems. Currently he is part of Microsoft’s Azure Quantum group, where he builds tools that empower developers to write quantum programs at scale.

Carlos Pérez-Delgado
Research ProfessorSchool of Computer Science, University of Kent

Carlos A. Perez-Delgado was born in Puebla, Mexico. He has a degree in computer science from the Benemérita Universdidad Autónoma de Puebla. He has an MMath and a PhD from the Institute for Quantum Computing, at the University of Waterloo. He previously worked at the Centre for Quantum Technologies of the National University of Singapore. He is currently a lecturer in computer science at the University of Kent, in Canterbury, UK. He also works as a consultant at Q&I, specialising in providing companies advice on the potential impact of quantum technologies on their business, particularly as it pertains to cybersecurity.

Juan Pino
Lead Physicist Honeywell Quantum Solutions

Juan Pino has been experimentally investigating, manipulating and leveraging quantum mechanics for twenty years. He earned his PhD in the field of Atomic Physics at JILA/University of Colorado, studying under Nobel Laureates and a MacArthur Fellow. After graduation he focused on quantum applications, performing contract research and development of robust, next-generation laser systems for quantum sensors at a Vescent Photonics. Now a scientist at Honeywell Quantum Solutions, Juan was the team lead on Honeywell’s first quantum computer, setting a world record for quantum computing performance in 2020.

Damián Pitalúa-García
Postdoc Researcher – Centre for Quantum Information and
Foundations, University of Cambridge

Damián was born in Mexico City. He has a degree in physics from the National Autonomous University of Mexico. He did part III Maths and obtained a PhD in Quantum Information Theory in the University of Cambridge, supervised by Professor Adrian Kent and graduating in 2014.
He worked as a researcher in the Free University of Brussels in 2014 and 2015, and in the Paris Diderot University in 2016 and 2017. Since 2018 he has been a researcher in the Centre for Quantum Information and Foundations, Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge, funded by the UK Quantum Communications Hub, investigating quantum cryptography.

César Rodríguez Rosario
Chief Scientific OfficerStrangeworks

Dr. César A. Rodríguez Rosario is the Chief Scientific Officer of Strangeworks, a startup that makes the power of quantum computing easily accessible to all developers. Prior to Strangeworks, he worked at Harvard University and Max Planck Institute as a Theoretical Physicists with a focus on Quantum Computing. He has a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Texas in Austin, and a B.S. in Computer Engineering. His 20 years of experience in quantum computation makes him affirms that the universe is made of quantum information. The puertorican natural dreams of quantum technologies changing the world.

Jorge Arturo Rojas Santana
Professor – Instituto Tecnológico de Toluca

Jorge Arturo Rojas Santana is a Ph.D. candidate in Nanotechnology from the Tecnológico de Monterrey developing research on optical depth sectioning techniques with quantum interferometry. He currently works as Leader of the Optics group of INNBIOSYS, an Optogenetics company located in Guanajuato, Mexico. He graduated from the Master’s Degree in Optics at the Ensenada Center for Scientific Research and Higher Education, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Physics from the Autonomous University of the State of Mexico.

Denise Ruffner
VP of Business Development – IonQ

Denise Ruffner is the VP of Business Development at IonQ, a trapped ion quantum computing company based in Maryland. Denise is responsible for all customer engagements and customer strategy. In her free time, she is President of Women in Quantum, a rapidly growing organization dedicated to highlighting and creating a community for women. Previously Denise was Chief Business Officer at Cambridge Quantum Computing (CQC). Prior to CQC, Denise worked at IBM for 18 years, and was part of the early IBM Quantum team responsible for starting the startup and ambassador programs, and leading the worldwide sales strategy. Prior to IBM Quantum, Denise held a variety of roles in increasing responsibilities including leading sales teams with annual quotas of $750M. Denise has been recognized for innovation, sales leadership and strategic planning.

Nariman Saadatmand
Quantum Applications & Software Lead – Quantum Brillance

Nariman Saadatmand has over a decade of track record in the quantum computing industry and academia. Nariman has developed hybrid classical-quantum algorithms and software platforms based on tensor networks and machine learning tools including XACC, Qiskit, and TensorFlow. He previously led the development of open-source C++, Python, and Matlab toolkits, where he acquired a deep understanding of software lifecycles, pipeline tests, and release support. Nariman has extensively used project management and version control tools and published several high-impact papers and product testing reports demonstrating his expertise in Quantum Information Theory and scientific software development.

Arturo Silva
Founder & CEO – Quantum Works SC

Arturo Silva obtained his BsC from Tecnológico de Monterrey as Engineering Physics in 1999. He has worked between Industry and Academia, starting his career as Process Engineer at Procter and Gamble, and currently he is the founder and CEO of Quantum Works SC, a technology company that designs algorithms to optimize processes for their customers. Quantum Works is a pioneer in Mexico as most likely the first company to use Quantum Computing to solve their client problems. One of the problems solved using Quantum Computing is to find efficiently and quickly the optimal career path for an employee in an organization. Quantum Works currently serves many Fortune 500 Companies and is on route to growing more.

Enrique Solano
Founder and CEO – Kipu Quantum

Prof. Enrique Solano obtained his Bachelor and Master degrees in Physics at Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Lima, Perú. He go his PhD in Physics at Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was a researcher at Max-Planck Institute for Quantum Optics, Garching, Germany, and Ludwig-Maximilia University, Munich, Germany. In 2000 he was appointed Professor of Physics at Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Lima, Peru. In 2008, after several years of international research experience, he accepted the prestigious position of Ikerbasque Professor at University of the Basque Country, Bilbao, Spain. Since then, he is director of the international center Quantum Computing and Quantum Technologies (QUTIS). In 2018, he accepted the position of Distinguished Professor of Physics at Shanghai University, Shanghai, China, where he is director of the international center «Quantum Artificial Intelligence for Science and Technology (QuArtist)». During 2019, he was Chief Scientific Officer in Quantum Technologies at the AI company DeepBlue Technology based in Shanghai, China. During 2020, Prof. Solano was CEO of IQM Germany, where his vision on innovative Co-Design Quantum Computers was used. Since 2021, Prof. Solano is founder and CEO of Kipu Quantum, Munich, Germany, for designing and productizing Multiplatform Modular Co-Design Quantum Computers with the mission of Useful Quantum Computers Now. Prof. Solano is an influential world-class leader and visionary in interdisciplinary fields related to quantum computing, quantum simulation, quantum artificial intelligence, and quantum technologies, where his unique perspectives in arts, science, technology, and entrepreneurship flourish.

Rafael Sotelo
Co-Founder – Quantum-South
Director ICT Department – Universidad de Montevideo

Rafael Sotelo is PhD from University of Vigo, Electrical Engineer (Universidad de la República) and MBA (Universidad de Montevideo). He is Director of Research at the School of Engineering, Universidad de Montevideo, and professor at Universidad de la República. He worked for more than 20 years at Broadcast, Telecommunications and IT companies. Consultant for the Ministry of Industry (2011-2020) and Laboratorio Tecnológico de Uruguay (2018-2020). Member of the National Research System, Fellow of the National Academy of Engineering of Uruguay ANIU and Senior Member of the IEEE. He currently is Regional Director (Latin America) of the IEEE Consumer Technology Society and member of the Board of Governors. He is also an elected member of the Administrative Committee of the IEEE Broadcast Technology Society (2016-18 and 2019-21). Rafael is co-founder of the start-up Quantum-South. His research areas are: Quantum Computing, Video Experience Quality, Industrial and social applications of artificial intelligence and technology.

Leesa Soulodre
General Partner – R3i Ventures

Leesa Soulodre is the General Partner of R3i Ventures, and the Pioneer behind the House of MedTech and House of DeepTech. The program is currently landing quantum and HPC companies enscale into Singapore and Luxembourg as entry points to access the Asia and European markets via their Calling Programs. Leesa is a board member of RunwayHQ, Board Observer of Quantum Brilliance, and Board Advisor to a portfolio of impact pioneers including MGA Thermal, Viewmind, Stratificare and Prosoma. She is an Entrepreneur in Residence for the Australian Landing Pad, 500 Startups, and Canadian Government High Commission Accelerators. She serves as an Adjunct Faculty Member of Singapore Management University Lee Kong Chian School of Business and IE Business School. Leesa holds a Global Executive MBA from TRIUM, the collaboration between NYU Stern, HEC Paris and the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a Masters in Management (Marketing) from the University of Southern Queensland.

Carlos Speglich
Petroleum Engineer – Dobslit

Graduated in Physical Engineering from the Federal University of São Carlos (2011), Carlos exchanged for Fachhochschule Gelsenkirchen (2010), moving to Petrobras in 2013. His entire career at the company was in R&D at the Petrobras Research Center, with the focus always in the development of a technological product that adheres to the wishes of the Oil and Gas industry. Acted as a Petrobras representative in negotiations with different multinationals to order technological products (Schlumberger, Amazon, IBM). He coordinated projects in different areas; from embedded electronics for sensing wells to the development of bionanotoxicity protocols. The most impactful projects were the creation of a product that replaces commercial additives in offshore operations (Petrobras-Unicamp patent) and the creation of an online platform for computational fluid dynamics software. He has deep knowledge of the need for alignment with the market and with the customer (he participated in the founding of two companies, advising the emergence of others).

Cristian Edwin Susa Quintero
Professor – Universidad de Córdoba

Cristian Edwin is a Physicist (laureate degree work) from the Universidad del Valle, Colombia (2009), with a Master’s (2011) and Doctorate (2016) at the same University, nationally awarded. He pursued his PhD at the University of Oxford, England. Currently, he is an associate professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Córdoba, Colombia. His field of research is quantum information and open quantum systems, with 12 articles published in international journals and more than 30 conferences. In October 2020 Cristian Edwin received the national award from the Alejandro Ángel Escobar Foundation for his contribution in the field of information and quantum technologies. Father of 2 little girls, he is also Trafficker Digital to support local businesses.

Salvador E. Venegas-Andraca (personal page)
Professor of Computer Science, DPhil (Oxon) – Tecnológico de Monterrey / The Unconventional Computing Lab

Salvador is a scientist and consultant devoted to scientific research, technology development, technology transfer, and teaching. He is the Principal Investigator of The Unconventional Computing Lab (his research group) and a Professor of Computer Science at Tecnológico de Monterrey.
His work is focused on understanding all scientific and societal aspects of computation as well as on contributing towards the economic development of modern society based on science and technology.
Salvador is a leading scientist in the field of quantum walks, co-founder of the field Quantum Image Processing and founder of Quantum Computing in Mexico.
He holds a DPhil in Physics and an MSc by research in Computer Vision, both degrees awarded by The University of Oxford. He also holds an MBA and a BSc in Digital Electronics & Computer Science, both degrees awarded by Tecnológico de Monterrey.
Salvador is a Fellow of the Mexican Academy of Sciences, Senior Member of the Association for Computing Machinery, Fellow of the Mexican Academy of Computer Science, Member of the Mexican Society for the Public Communication of Science, and SNI level 2 (physics and mathematics) at Mexico’s National Network of Researchers.

Araceli Venegas-Gomez
Founder and CEO – QURECA

Dr. Araceli Venegas-Gomez spent several years working for Airbus in Germany and France as an aerospace engineer, before falling in love with quantum mechanics. She then decided to follow her passion for physics, and moved to Scotland to pursue a PhD in quantum simulation at the University of Strathclyde. Following discussions with the different quantum stakeholders she had over the last years, Araceli identified the need to bridge the gap between businesses and academia, as well as to raise the quantum awareness to the general public. Continuing her work on outreach advocating quantum technologies, she was named the “quantum ambassador”, after winning the Optical Society Milton and Rosalind Chang Pivoting fellowship in 2019. Araceli founded her own company called QURECA (Quantum Resources and Careers) to create a link between the different stakeholders in the quantum community through a common language, and to generate global opportunities with quantum technologies. QURECA provides a range of professional services, business development, and the solution to the quantum workforce skills bottleneck: the first online platform for quantum training and resourcing, to support individuals and businesses to be part of the quantum revolution.

Rafael Verissimo
Co-Founder / MSc Student – Brazil Quantum / ENSTA Paris

Rafael Veríssimo is a co-founder of Brazil Quantum. He’s a
Military Institute of Engineering former student and is currently
pursuing his MS degree at ENSTA Paris. Last year, he worked at
Capgemini Paris developing quantum computing-based solutions for
financial services.

Marcos Villagra
Research Professor – Universidad Nacional de Asunción

Marcos Villaga holds a PhD in computer theory from the Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Japan (March 2013). He was a Research Fellow of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Sciences (JSPS) and a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Fukui from April 2013 to March 2015. Since April 2015, he is a full-time research professor at the National University of Asunción, Paraguay. His research interests are computational and algebraic complexity, cryptography, quantum computing and information, combinatorial games, automata theory, and algebraic and spectral algorithms.

Joanne Wong
General Partner
REDDS Capital
Co-Founder & CEO – Scioshub

Joanne is General Partner of REDDS Capital, a Californian based VC firm investing in global early-stage & seed level IT startups. She is a mentor/advisor for multiple startups. Joanne is Co-Founder/CEO of a health startup, scioshub, providing bioinformatics data and project management platform for life science researchers. She was Executive Director of a healthcare charity startup, The SuperComputer for Cancer Research, providing free green supercomputing power for cancer researchers. Joanne is 2021 Member at Large and 2020 Vice Chair, Industry & Investor Activities on the IEEE Entrepreneurship Steering Committee. She is 2019 to 2021 Secretary, IEEE TEMS Executive Committee and Board of Governors.

Romina Yalovetzky
Quantum Computing Researcher – JP Morgan Chase

Romina Yalovetzky is a Quantum Computing researcher working in the Future Lab for Applied Research and Engineering (FLARE) team in JP Morgan Chase. She is located in Buenos Aires. Romina got her Licenciatura degree in Physics from the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) in 2019 after completing a one-year thesis project on Data Mining techniques applied to reduce dimensionality in Biological Single Cell Studies at the Leloir institute. She got her Diploma with Honor for her outstanding high academic performance. Prior to that, she did a full year internship in the R&D department of the FATE tire company and was a summer student at CERN in 2017. She is a volunteer in the Argentinian NGO “Chicas en Tecnología” that works to close the gender gap in Technology in the LATAM region.

Mohamed Zouhaier Ramadhane
Architect, Technical Leader and Quantum Computing Ambassador IBM Quantum

Architect, Technical Leader and IBM Quantum Computing Ambassador, Mohamed is an MSc from Polytech Nice Sophia Polytechnic University in France, with more than 10 years of experience in the financial and retail industries. He has participated in projects of digital transformation, innovation, mobile solutions projects, IoT and blockchain. Mohamed has worked with several clients as a lead architect, being responsible for the complete design of cognitive, mobile, DevOps and artificial intelligence solutions.