Overview
As companies strive for or have (possibly) already achieved quantum supremacy, the global quantum technologies scene is set to be even more disruptive as we move into 2020. On the international scale, there is increasing interest in quantum technologies, leading to opportunities for all in both scientific and business roles relating to the industry. However, a significant pain point in this area of science is the lack of talent and diversity within the ranks of the quantum community.
Discover from our panel of experts as they give their insights from their diverse perspectives on the future of the worldwide quantum ecosystem and the emerging role of Singapore, their journey into quantum technologies, the diverse talent pipeline and their quantum vision for 2020.
Date: 21 January 2020, Tuesday
Time: 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Venue 32 Carpenter Street, Singapore 059911
Speakers:
- Denise Ruffner, Chief Business Officer, Cambridge Quantum Computing
- Dr. Yvonne Yuan Gao, Scientist, A*Star
- Tommaso Demarie, CEO & Co-Founder, EntropicaLabs
- Priyanka Deva, Global Leader for Digitial Supply Chain, Senior Technical Staff Member (Technical Team) and IBM Q Ambassador, IBM
Moderator: Juliana Lim, Head - Talent Networking, SGInnovate
Programme Details:
4:00pm - 4:30pm Registration
4:30pm - 4:45pm: Keynote by Denise Ruffner, Chief Business Officer, Cambridge Quantum Computing
4:45pm - 5:45pm Panel Discussion and Q&A
5:30pm - 6:00pm: Networking
Speakers' Profiles:
Denise Ruffner, Chief Business Officer, Cambridge Quantum Computing
Denise Ruffner is Chief Business Officer and a member of the Company's executive leadership team. In this role, she manages and coordinate CQC's business development activities focusing on building CQC's strong growth agenda, fostering client development and loyalty, and managing corporate strategy and key relationships.
Denise has been recognised for innovation, sales leadership and strategic planning throughout her 18-year career at IBM. During this tenure, she held a variety of roles which included responsibility for quotas up to $750 million in annual revenue. She joined CQC from the IBM Systems Group Quantum Computing team where her leadership responsibilities included developing and heading the IBM Q Startup Program, in addition to leading the IBM Q Network Ambassador team for the North America, Latin America and Asia regions. Prior to this, Denise was the Worldwide Genomics Sales Leader for IBM Systems Group.
Denise holds a Master's degree in Neurobiology and Molecular Biology from the University of Pittsburgh.
Dr. Yvonne Yuan Gao, Scientist, A*Star
Yvonne is an experimental physicist in Singapore developing state-of-the-art hardware for quantum information processing. She has been named in MIT Technology Review's TR35 Innovators Under 35 Asia list for 2020 and awarded the Singapore National Research Foundation Fellowship (Class of 2020). Yvonne earned her doctorate at Yale University, where she worked on constructing the crucial building blocks of quantum computers using superconducting microwave circuits. She earlier graduated with First Class Honours in Physics from the University of Oxford. Since 2018, Yvonne returned to Singapore to be part of the A*STAR Quantum Technologies for Engineering (QTE) programme. In 2020, Yvonne is startinga new experimental research effort on building modular quantum hardware with superconducting quantum circuits in NUS as an assistant professor.
Tommaso Demarie, CEO & Co-Founder, EntropicaLabs
Tommaso Demarie is a quantum information theorist with more than 9 years of experience in quantum computing. He holds a PhD from Macquarie University, Australia, and is an alumnus of Singapore's Centre for Quantum Technologies. Tommaso is the CEO and co-founder of Entropica Labs, a Singapore-based startup developing tools and applications for quantum computing. Entropica, founded by a team of physicists and computer scientists, creates software and design algorithms to enable practical and scalable near-term quantum machine learning and optimisation. The startup collaborates and works with leading quantum hardware manufacturers in the United States, including Rigetti Computing, IBM and Microsoft.
Priyanka Deva,Global Leader for Digitial Supply Chain, Senior Technical Staff Member (Technical Team) andIBM Q Ambassador, IBM
Priyanka Deva is Global Leader for Digitial Supply Chain and Senior Technical Staff Member leading Technical Team in IBM. A Design Thinker and a Technology Evangelist she has 20 years of work experience in the IT Industry and has worked across geographies leading new Initiatives to translate IBM Technologies into solutions to deliver client value and fuel Innovation and growth.
Priyanka is an IBM Quantum Ambassador, holds Degree in Computer Science from Newport University and Diploma in Management from X.LR.I, India.
Moderator's Profile:
Juliana Lim, Head - Talent Networking, SGInnovate
As Head - Talent Networking, Juliana leads SGInnovate's work in strengthening individuals' capabilities in the deep tech space, as well as in expanding the talent network of ambitious and capable people who want to build startups.
Prior to joining SGInnovate, Juliana had been in various roles across the HR function in organisations such as SP Group, NTUC First Campus (NFC), the National Heritage Board (NHB), Central Provident Fund Board (CPFB) and the Ministry of Education (MOE). She has led teams in talent attraction, benefits and rewards, learning and development and business partnering.
During her time at NFC, Juliana led a team to grow NTUC's quality and affordable childcare centres from slightly over 30 to more than 120 in just over two years. During this time, she led her team to change mindsets and develop career paths for early childhood professionals to contribute based on their interests, passion and competencies.
Before NFC, Juliana was in NHB, helping in its mission to make museums sexy again and encouraging Singaporeans to become more appreciative of heritage and culture through exciting local and international exhibitions. She was instrumental in the revamp of the National Museum (and its extension), as well as the start of the National Gallery Singapore project (transformation of two national monuments - former Supreme Court and City Hall). Here, she worked with senior management to lead organisation transformation, including undertaking a major review of the compensation framework, organisation restructuring, introduction of business partnering with the museums and development of a scholarship programme.
Juliana's interest in HR was sparked by her posting to MOE's HR department, which convinced her to pursue a full-time Master in Strategic HR Management. When she returned to MOE in the then newly formed HR Policy Unit, Juliana developed and implemented HR policies, drawing valuable experience from her interactions and working with teachers in schools.
Juliana has a Bachelor of Economics (1st Class Hons) from Murdoch University and a Master in Strategic Human Resource Management from the University of New South Wales.
