AI, Quantum Computing and the Future of National Defence

Jamie Amarat Sandhu is a policy researcher at the Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society. His specialization in the governance of emerging technologies and global affairs has earned him a track record of providing strategic guidance to decision-makers and addressing cross-sector socio-economic challenges arising from advancements in science and technology at both the international and domestic levels. This expertise is supported by an MSc in Politics and Technology from the Technical University of Munich’s School of Social Science and Technology in Germany, complemented by a BA in International Relations from the University of British Columbia.

Lisa Lambert is the inaugural CEO of Quantum Industry Canada (QIC), the national, industry-led consortium uniting quantum technology companies and allied organizations. Under her leadership, QIC is dedicated to unlocking the full potential of Canada’s quantum sector, aiming to advance the country’s position as a global leader in quantum innovation while bolstering Canadian business success and national prosperity. 

Throughout her career, Lisa’s been a pioneer of collaborative innovation at the intersection of science, technology, and society. She has spearheaded trailblazing projects worldwide, working alongside leading minds and organizations to drive transformative change and create lasting impact.

Peter has been a director on over sixteen technology company boards, a venture capitalist, a CEO and a technology company founder in the software and robotics sectors, currently working on AI for investment management and advising on various CIGI programs.

Previously co-founder and co-CEO of Applied Brain Research inc., commercializing brian-inspired AI research out of the University of Waterloo’s Theoretical Neurosciences Lab in the Systems Engineering Department led by Dr. Chris Eliasmith. ABR’s work focused on neuromorphic compilers and applications partnered with Intel as well as advanced autonomy and and signal processing for various US military and intelligence agencies, now focused on AI chips. Previous to that, peter was President, Co-Founder & Director then CEO at PharmaTrust where he grew the company with capital and sweat equity from April 2006 to his resignation in June 2011, during which time the team built great technology, changed laws and all in all did the impossible together for the company’s first five years. Prior to that Peter was V.P. Investments at Growthworks Capital Inc., and prior to that principal at Start Seed Capital. Peter started his very first company, the award winning SRG Software, while a student in computer science at the University of Toronto.

Peter holds a MASc in Theoretical and Computational Neuroscience from the University of Waterloo which was supervised by Dr. Eliasmith. His thesis was on “Biologically Plausible Cortical Hierarchical-Classifier Circuit Extensions in Spiking Neurons”. Peter holds; an Honours B.Sc. from the University of Toronto; an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago; a P.D.A.M. majoring in Financial Engineering from the Schulich School of Business; an ICD.D from the Institute of Corporate Directors at the Rotman School of Business and an LLM in Securities Law from Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto.

Halyna Padalko is a multidisciplinary researcher with over 10 years of experience in media communications. She specializes in strategic communication, propaganda, disinformation, and the application of AI tools in these domains. She holds a master’s degree in Global Governance from the Balsillie School of International Affairs and is currently pursuing a PhD in Computer Science at the National Aerospace University Kharkiv Aviation Institute.

She is a Digital Policy Hub Doctoral Fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation, a Research Fellow at the Balsillie School of International Affairs, and is also doing a fellowship at the NATO Centre for Strategic Communications. She also completed an Internship at the European Parliament.

Alexander F. Martin is a Digital Policy Hub doctoral fellow and a Ph.D. student in science and technology studies at York University. His research focuses on digital policy, platform governance and the social impacts of emerging technologies. He studies decentralized platforms such as Mastodon and Bluesky as models for alternative governance. His work also addresses artificial intelligence, content moderation and mis/disinformation, advocating for adaptive, layered policy approaches. His dissertation explores Canadian digital sovereignty and leadership in global digital governance. He previously worked with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s Science and Technology Organization as a strategic communications officer. Alexander is a junior fellow at the Canadian International Council and teaches communication at Conestoga College part-time.