Strategic Security in the Quantum-AI Age

Anna is a CEO and co-founder at Quantum Security Defence, QSECDEF that is a global networking, educational and business platform to serve community of professionals. She is an active participant in the Quantum Start Up Sector in Germany with her project QuantumPrime which focuses on Quantum Satellite Communications that is data entanglement and quantum data teleportation for future 6G connectivity.   Anna Beata Kalisz Hedegaard is a physicist with two Master of Science degrees. At Wright State University, Ohio, she got deeply interested in electronics and nanotechnology, and the University of Southern Denmark fortified her expertise in quantum mechanics, and particle physics.   Anna serves on the Krown Network Quantum Security Advisory Board that builds quantum secure blockchain.   Anna has global perspective from her extensive international experience (Poland, Denmark, the United States, Malaysia, the Netherlands, and Germany) and intellectual property experience from the European Patent Office and from working as a patent engineer. Anna speaks German, Danish, Polish and English.

Zeki C. Seskir is a researcher in the field of technology assessment (TA) at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) - Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS) and coordinator of the project "QuTec: Quantum Technology Innovations for Society." He conducts landscaping studies on quantum technologies (QT) ecosystems, education and outreach research in QT, and conceptual exploration for ELSA research for QT to be utilized in TA capabilities.  His background is in Science and Technology Policy Studies (STPS) and Quantum Information Science. He published on topics such as the QT start-up ecosystem, publication and patent landscapes, quantum radar, many-worlds interpretation, stakeholder engagement, and democratization of QT. His research interests cover a wide range of topics from quantum games to innovation ecosystems.

Malak Trabelsi Loeb is a legal expert in international business law with a focus on space law, technology and national security law, and the governance of emerging technologies, with emphasis on quantum and AI. She is the Founder and President of Vernewell Group and the Founder and CEO of Trabelsi Loeb Legal Consultants. Trabelsi Loeb advises governments, frontier-tech companies, innovators and startups, research institutions, and investors on regulatory strategy and risk, technology transfer and export control, foreign investment screening and national security reviews, cross-border data and cybersecurity, and trustworthy deployment in critical and space systems.   She founded Vernewell Tech and Space in 2020 and grew it into Vernewell Group, shaping the MENA quantum and deep-tech landscape by linking policy, industry, and research to deliver deployments, not pilots that stall. Under Vernewell’s Quantum Adoption Program she founded the Quantum Innovation Summit as the flagship convening platform, launched the Vernex Quantum Hub at DIFC as a venture studio that designs, pilots, and scales quantum solutions through the Vernex Quantum Platform, and leads Vernewell Management Consultancies, Vernewell Academy, and Quantum Universum Magazine. These initiatives move use cases from assessment to production, shorten time to implementation, and position the UAE as an active contributor to the global quantum economy. Engagements span finance, energy and utilities, logistics and maritime, healthcare and life sciences, Industry 4.0 manufacturing, space and satellite services, and telecommunications.   Trabelsi Loeb has been recognised in the Quantum 100 for contributions to the global quantum ecosystem. She is a NATO Subject Matter Expert for the space sector and emerging disruptive technologies, a frequent keynote speaker and moderator at international forums, and a recipient of the Innovation Leadership Award at the Women in Aviation Middle East Conference in 2024. Her academic background in law and economics underpins this work. She graduated valedictorian with highest honors in International Business Law from Sorbonne University, with a thesis on space insurance and international space law. Based in Dubai, she works across MENA, Europe, and North America.

Cierra Choucair Lunde is the founder and CEO of Universum Labs, an open-access initiative exploring how quantum, AI, and knowledge graphs can accelerate scientific discovery.  She is the creator of The Daily Qubit, a widely read research digest that translates key quantum papers for practitioners, researchers, and policy leaders.  She also serves as an advisor to Girls in Quantum, supporting inclusive access to quantum education and careers. She is a host of Quantum World Tour in collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union, ITU.

EnLuz founder and international speaker, Nydia provides strategic advisory in data science, AI/ML, quantum computing, neuroscience, and IT risk & security. She leads Global Quantum and AI Literacy programs with a focus on accessibility and economic development. Her firm provides strategic advisory and consulting. Nydia’s team was a finalist in the 2025 Global Industry Challenge (NeuroQuantum Nexus), announced at the Quantum World Congress and hosted by Connected DMV.   In 2024, she was also a finalist in a Global Climate Challenge, which led to a Quantum Fellowship sponsored by the U.S. Navy Nuclear Laboratory, culminating in a materials discovery publication presented at Fall TMS 2025. She was named one of SAS’s “Top Women in Analytics” (2021), nominated for the ATHENA Leadership Award (2022), and recognised with MetLife’s Center Stage Award (Q2 2018) for her digital transformation and compliance impact.   In 2025, she was nominated for the “Quantum 100” award, aligned with UNESCO’s International Year of Quantum Science & Information, recognising leadership in the global quantum ecosystem. With a background in electronic engineering and psych neuroscience, Nydia previously served as Global Principal for IT Risk & Security, where she advanced security posture maturity, developed metrics frameworks, optimized tooling spend, and co-led board-level security posture reporting for a Fortune 40 Fintech. She is passionate about demystifying deep tech and building bridges between cybersecurity, AI, and quantum for real-world impact

Olivier Duroyon serves as the Head of the Public Sector segment for Network Infrastructure at Nokia, with responsibility for Defense, Public Safety, Research and Education Networks, and the modernization of local government and metropolitan infrastructure.  Drawing on an engineering background, he has accumulated extensive experience in public affairs and business development, supporting national, regional, and local governments in the advancement and modernization of their ICT infrastructure.

Jose is a systems engineer with a knack for making quantum technologies work—in the real world and in space. He played a key role in shaping the European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (EuroQCI) User Requirements Document from the very start and led the LuxQCI roadmap definition. With hands-on experience as a space systems engineer, he now supports industry and member states at ESA, helping them navigate the uncharted waters of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and Quantum Computing-exploring what they can (and maybe can’t) do.   He’s shared insights at DEFCON, demonstrated quantum cryptography using nothing but playing cards, and even exchanged quantum-secured keys over a transatlantic video call-without a single trusted node in sight or laser.   When he’s not wrangling quantum tech, Jose is probably tinkering with new ideas, pushing boundaries just enough to keep things interesting.

Maria Witte is the founder of Arise Innovations, a company redefining how scientific ventures become fundable and scalable.   With a background in chemistry & nanotech, and over 130 projects under her belt, she developed a proprietary reverse-engineering system that starts not with business plans, but with the physics, chemistry, or biology at the core of the innovation. Her approach has helped deep tech ventures across Europe secure millions in strategic funding - by rejecting the rules of the lean startup playbook or business wishful thinking.   Known for challenging both founders and funders to think beyond hype cycles, she works with startups, corporates and investors to design capital logic around real scientific potential - not just buzzword-y speculative storytelling.

Owen O’Donnell is a Dublin native and currently leads marketing, strategy, and new product introductions for VIAVI’s Wireless Business Unit, with a focus on 5G, Open RAN, AI-driven RAN, s and network security testing.  Owen is a key contributor to VIAVI’s advancements in PQC (Post-Quantum Cryptography) performance testing, authoring whitepapers and speaking at industry conferences.   With over 35 years in the mobile industry, Owen has held senior roles at Ericsson and Huawei and has lived and worked in Sweden and the UK before returning to Ireland. His expertise spans wireless innovation, network resilience, and emerging technologies shaping next-generation connectivity.

Dr. Jana Jentzsch has been a certified specialist lawyer for Information Technology Law (IT law) since 2011. She advises and represents well-known German and international companies and public authorities on legal and strategic matters relating to software use—particularly in connection with technology-use risk assessments (software licensing, AI applications, data use, information security) and the legal implications of digital transformation strategies (e.g., cloud transformation and AI implementation).  From September 2021 to March 2022, she successfully completed the “Technology Leadership Program” at the University of California, Berkeley. Dr.

Eric Piroux is an experienced business professional in Cybersecurity, Trust Services, PKI and Cryptography. With a strong business-oriented approach, he has driven digital transformation initiatives for Financial Institutions, Corporations and e-Government entities.  Eric has successfully led the international expansion of IT Security and GRC software vendors out of France, Spain, Italy and Germany after a career as Commercial Attaché in several FrenchEmbassies.  Eric graduated from ESSEC Paris with a Master of Business Administration. At the Entrust Center of Excellence, he empowers organizations to achieve their digital goals, implement cost-effective identity-centric security solutions and prepare for the transition to Post-Quantum Cryptography. Eric also represents Entrust at the Secure Identity Alliance.

Niki Harris brings expertise in quantum technologies, AI governance, and defence policy, with a focus on emerging technology strategy and international security.   She previously served as an AI Policy Analyst at Canada's Department of National Defence, where she advised on AI ethics frameworks, autonomous systems governance, and led research on quantum-AI integration for defence innovation. During her tenure, she collaborated with NATO, the Five Eyes, NIST, and others on international AI governance initiatives, including the US political declaration on the military use of AI and developed risk management frameworks for AI systems.  Niki holds a Public Policy, International Relations & Security degree from Carleton University, 2025 and is based in Ottawa, Canada. niki.harris@qsecdef.com

Michael is Investment Advisor at Heartcore Capital, backing very early-stage, sector-defining quantum companies. IHeleverages his technical expertise and strategic market understanding to establish relationships with committed founders building the future of quantum computing, sensing, and communications.   CEO of MBQ, providing independent strategic advisory services to international organizations and technology sector clients on global projects.   Previously VP of Business Intelligence at Global Quantum Intelligence, where he advised on quantum strategy and investments worldwide.

His role at the company is to bring the voice of the customer into all dimensions of the firm and ensure communications are relevant and impactful.   Prior to Eclypses, Adam was the Group Head of Cyber Risk for a European bank after a successful career in risk, advisory and technology innovation.   He has built international security teams across many industry sectors – including finance, critical infrastructure, government, and military - his impact has been recognised in multiple awards and he is a frequent speaker at industry forums and conferences.

Marin Ivezic is the founder of Applied Quantum, a consulting firm dedicated to helping organizations prepare for the opportunities and threats of quantum technology. Former quantum entrepreneur, he previously led cybersecurity and quantum technology practices at a Big Four firms as well as at IBM and Accenture, and he also served as a CISO and CTO at Fortune Global 500 companies.  With over a three decades of relevant experience and over a decade of experience working on quantum readiness initiatives with governments and critical infrastructure organizations, Marin specializes in bridging the gap between cutting-edge innovations and practical cybersecurity strategy.

Adrian Neal is a two-time winner of the NATO Defence Innovation Challenge and an international expert in Cybersecurity and Cryptography. He serves as Senior Director and Global Lead for Post-Quantum Cryptography at Capgemini, and CEO of QuStream, delivering cutting-edge quantum-safe encryption (504-bit hardness) in Web3 environments. With nearly 40 years of experience across 8 countries and sectors including banking, energy, pharma, and defense, Adrian advises governments, defense organizations, and multinationals on post-quantum readiness.  He also consults on cybersecurity for Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) on socio-economic risks from cryptographic instability. Adrian is a member of the International Association for Cryptologic Research (IACR).  He founded two Oxford spinouts: Oxford BioChronometrics, a fraud detection pioneer cited by global media and US Congress, and Oxford Scientifica, focused on secure military communications, with both ventures earning NATO cybersecurity awards.

Eric Piroux is an experienced business professional in Cybersecurity, Trust Services, PKI and Cryptography. With a strong business-oriented approach, he has driven digital transformation initiatives for Financial Institutions, Corporations and e-Government entities.  Eric has successfully led the international expansion of IT Security and GRC software vendors out of France, Spain, Italy and Germany after a career as Commercial Attaché in several FrenchEmbassies.  Eric graduated from ESSEC Paris with a Master of Business Administration. At the Entrust Center of Excellence, he empowers organizations to achieve their digital goals, implement cost-effective identity-centric security solutions and prepare for the transition to Post-Quantum Cryptography. Eric also represents Entrust at the Secure Identity Alliance.

Edouard Derby works on the improvement and development of effectors and effector systems using quantum technologies, notably in the field of communications. Edouard studies MBDA’s potential use cases for quantum communications that are broad, and in principle spanning many existing communications systems.

Dr Spencer is one of the world’s leading authorities on quantum technology, with a defence-sector background that has shaped the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme and influenced international roadmaps and defence applications.

Anna is a CEO and co-founder at Quantum Security Defence, QSECDEF that is a global networking, educational and business platform to serve community of professionals. She is an active participant in the Quantum Start Up Sector in Germany with her project QuantumPrime which focuses on Quantum Satellite Communications that is data entanglement and quantum data teleportation for future 6G connectivity.   Anna Beata Kalisz Hedegaard is a physicist with two Master of Science degrees. At Wright State University, Ohio, she got deeply interested in electronics and nanotechnology, and the University of Southern Denmark fortified her expertise in quantum mechanics, and particle physics.   Anna serves on the Krown Network Quantum Security Advisory Board that builds quantum secure blockchain.   Anna has global perspective from her extensive international experience (Poland, Denmark, the United States, Malaysia, the Netherlands, and Germany) and intellectual property experience from the European Patent Office and from working as a patent engineer. Anna speaks German, Danish, Polish and English.