Australia's premier global quantum conference
Quantum Australia
Conference 2026
Adelaide, South Australia
Quantum for Impact: Unlocking Productivity
29 – 30 April (Main Conference)
28 April (Pre Conference Activities)
Adelaide Convention Centre
About the Conference
Building on the 2025 theme The Translation of Quantum, the 2026 Conference showcases how quantum is already delivering measurable productivity and efficiency gains, unlocking economic growth, strengthening sovereign capability, and creating investable opportunities across critical sectors.
The Quantum Australia Conference 2026 unites global quantum leaders, industry decision-makers, researchers, and investors to tackle the most pressing challenges across critical sectors. From healthcare and defence to energy, mining, and finance, attendees will see how quantum is already creating measurable productivity gains, opening new commercial opportunities, and delivering economic returns.
With developers and end-users sharing the stage, the program offers an unparalleled look at both the technology and its application. This is where partnerships form, strategies take shape, and ideas move from the lab to the marketplace, ensuring Australia’s quantum edge translates into industry growth and national prosperity.
What’s On
Wednesday 29th April
Thursday 30th April
Pre Conference Activities
IBM and Quantum Australia are pleased to invite C-Suite Executives to an exclusive roundtable designed to help business leaders chart a confident, practical path into the quantum era while safeguarding their enterprises, their data, and their clients.
Join us for a strategic discussion on building quantum-safe resilience, before the quantum shift becomes a business‑critical issue. Share challenges, compare strategies, and uncover common hurdles.
Tuesday, 28 April 2026
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Adelaide Convention Centre
South Australian Industry Engagement Workshops
Delivered by the Government of South Australia
International and interstate delegates are invited to take part in an exclusive, curated program designed to connect you directly with South Australia’s leading industry, research and government stakeholders.
Through high-level workshops, facility tours and focused roundtable discussions, you’ll gain behind-the-scenes access to the organisations driving innovation across defence, energy, health and finance.
To express your interest, email DSD.InvestSAevents@sa.gov.au
Networking Events
QAC2026 Gala Dinner
Thursday 30 April | 7:00–11:00pm
Adelaide Convention Centre
$220 + GST
Wine & Networking at McLaren Vale
Tuesday 28 April | 2:00–4:00pm
(1:00pm departure from Adelaide CBD)
$110 + GST
QAC2026 Networking Drinks
Wednesday 29 April | 5:30–6:30pm
Adelaide Convention Centre
The Voices Shaping Quantum | QAC Speakers
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Henning Soller
McKinsey & Company | Partner - Quantum Technologies
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Prof Michelle Simmons AO
Silicon Quantum Computing | Founder & CEO
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Vikram Sharma
Quintessence Labs | CEO & Founder
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Dr Cathy Foley
Australia’s 9th Chief Scientist
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Prof Geoff Pryde
PsiQuantum | Chief Technical Director
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Prof Lene B. Oddershede
Novo Nordisk Foundation | Chief Scientific Officer
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Dr Philip Intallura
HSBC | Group Head of Quantum Technologies
-
Bill Bartee
Main Sequence |
Co-founder & Managing Partner -
Dr Jin-Sung Kim
Nvidia | Developer Relations Manager
-
Melissa Bergin
BHP Ventures | Head of Portfolio Strategy
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Prof Stephen Bartlett
University of Sydney | Director of Sydney Nano
-
Hon. Simon Birmingham
Australian Banking Association | CEO
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Dr Larry Marshall
Fortescue | Lead Independent Director
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Petra Andrén
Quantum Australia | CEO
-
Dr Pranav Gokhale
Infleqtion | CTO
-
Dr Jim Rabeau
Deteqt | CEO & Co-Founder
-
Petra Florizoone
IBM | Global Quantum Sales Director
-
Nima Leclerc
MITRE | Head of the Adaptive Quantum Sensing Program
-
Peter Rossdeutcher AM
Quantum Australia | Chair
-
Dr Ruth Shaw
QuTECH | COO
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John Barrington AM
Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research | Former Chair
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Flavia Tata Nardini
Fleet Space Technologies | Co-founder & CEO
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Kyle Hardman
Nomad Atomics | CEO & Co-founder
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Prof Nalini Joshi AO
ARC Centre of Excellence in Mathematics for Quantum Era Security and Trust | Director
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Prof Andrea Morello
ARC Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computer Performance and Integration | Director
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Dr. Neil Abroug
INRIA | Head of the Quantum Program
-
Prof Allison Kealy
Swinburne University of Technology | Director
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Aaron Baensch
TeraGlo | CEO
-
Prof Warwick Bowen
QUBIC | Director
-
Katie Scott
Microsoft | Senior Technology Leader
-
David Rivas
Rigetti Computing | CTO
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Dr Christina Giarmatzi
Macquarie University | Senior Lecturer in Quantum Physics
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Andrew Seedhouse
Defence Science and Technology Group | Chief of Space, Intelligence, National Security and Cyber
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Stephanie Moroz
DISR | Industry Growth Program Adviser
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Major General Hugh Meggitt AM CSC
Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) | First Assistant Secretary
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Dr Scott Foster
DSTG | Program Lead of Quantum Technologies
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Liza Noonan
Cicada Innovations | CEO
-
Chris Cockburn
Australian Rare Earths | Exploration Manager
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Astri Cornish
IBM | Quantum Workforce and Education Lead
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Dr. Shintaro Sato
Fujitsu Limited | Head of Quantum Laboratory
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Dani Couger
Lockheed Martin | Quantum Lead
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Matthew White
Thales | VP Cyber Security Specialists APJ
-
Dan Bennett
Salus Ventues | Founding Partner
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Dr Jessical Rosenberg
George Mason University | Professor, Physics and Astronomy
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Dr Chris Ferrie
UTS | Quantum Researcher
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Claire Kelly
Evident Scientific | Field Sales Manager
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Katsuyuki Hanai
Toshiba | Business Unit Manager
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Prof Tafline Ramos
La Trobe University | Global Practice Director of Quality Engineering at Planit
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Alistair Tegart
Standards Australia | Standards Adviser - Quantum Technology
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Olivia Henry
Australian Science Media Centre | News Lead
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Michael Egan
KPMG | Director Quantum Technologies
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Katja Digweed
CSIRO | Director of Manufacturing
Explore Australia’s Quantum Ecosystem
Quantum Australia is offering a curated national engagement program designed to provide direct access to Australia’s rapidly growing quantum ecosystem.
Running before and after the Quantum Australia Conference 2026, these visits connect delegates with leading quantum companies, research institutions, universities and industry end users exploring real-world applications across sectors including defence, energy, finance, health and advanced manufacturing.
Participants will gain behind-the-scenes access to facilities, meet the people building the technology, and explore opportunities for collaboration, investment and partnership.
Together, these visits provide unique insight into Australia’s quantum capabilities and create direct pathways for future collaboration.
Registration Closing Date: Friday, 10 April 2026
For further information on the programs please contact Joseph Dodd, Partnership Development Lead, joseph.dodd@quantum-australia.com
Brisbane | 24 April
Visit Australia’s quantum computing testbed, hear from leading research hubs and connect with major quantum companies.
Melbourne | 27 April
Tour the world’s first
commercial quantum diamond foundry and engage with the biomedical and biopharma innovation ecosystem.
Adelaide | 28 April
Participate in pre-conference industry workshops focused on Defence, Energy, Health and Finance.
Sydney | 1 May
Visit leading quantum computing labs and meet Australian industry end users across finance, telecommunications, medtech and energy.
Perth | 4 May
Tour the Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre, a high-performance computing facility, and meet leading quantum researchers and startups.
Activations
Careers Fair: Explore real pathways into
Australia’s quantum workforce.
The Careers Fair 2026, delivered in partnership with Sydney Quantum Academy, is designed for university students who want to understand what a career in quantum actually looks like, and how to get there.
This session connects undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD students directly with quantum researchers, startups, employers, universities and industry partners. It’s a practical, opportunity-focused event that cuts through the hype to answer the questions that matter: who’s hiring, what roles exist, and what skills and pathways lead into the quantum sector.
Whether you’re exploring internships, graduate roles, research careers or industry pathways, the Careers Fair is where conversations turn into concrete next steps.
Wednesday, 29 April 2026
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Adelaide Convention Centre
Employer Showcase: Quantum 2045:
Jobs, Skills and Training
Career Testimonials
Open Day: Discover what quantum is, why it matters, and where it could take you.
Open Day, delivered in partnership with Sydney Quantum Academy, is an inspiring introduction to quantum for high school students and educators curious about the future of technology and careers in STEM.
Designed to spark curiosity rather than require technical knowledge, the Open Day showcases what quantum is, why it matters, and the wide range of technical and non-technical careers that support this rapidly growing sector , from science and engineering through to policy, business, communications and beyond.
You don’t need to be a quantum expert to attend. If you’re curious about how science shapes the future, interested in emerging careers, or exploring what’s possible after school, this is where curiosity starts, and pathways begin.
Thursday, 30 April 2026
9:15 AM – 12:30 PM
Adelaide Convention Centre
What Is Quantum, Really?
Translating a Strange and Powerful Field for Industry, Policy and the Public.
Researchers know the feeling: someone asks, “So… what is quantum?”, and suddenly the answer feels impossibly complicated. Are they asking for the physics? The applications? The economic impact? The jobs?
The panel will unpack how to explain quantum clearly, confidently and contextually, without losing accuracy or impact. Through a live-style exchange between a researcher and a journalist or communications lead, our speakers will demonstrate how to navigate the question in real time. When do you simplify? When do you zoom out to industry applications? When do you focus on national capability, productivity and workforce?
Designed for researchers learning to communicate beyond the lab, policymakers seeking clarity, industry leaders assessing what quantum means for them, and media shaping the public narrative, this session will equip you with practical tools to articulate quantum’s value, no matter who is asking.
Wednesday, 29 April 2026
1:30 PM - 2:10 PM
Adelaide Convention Centre
Building Trust in Quantum: The Role of Standards
Practical insights for researchers, founders and industry leaders navigating secure growth and global collaboration.
As Australia’s quantum sector accelerates from lab to market, protecting innovation becomes as important as developing it. For researchers exploring international partnerships, spin-out founders entering global markets, and companies scaling rapidly, understanding how to safeguard technology and manage emerging risks is critical.
This interactive session will explore practical considerations for collaborating overseas, commercialising sensitive technologies, and engaging confidently with government as your venture grows.
Designed to be solutions-focused and accessible, the session will combine short insights with audience discussion — offering clarity, practical guidance and pathways for support across the quantum ecosystem.
Wednesday, 29 April 2026
2:15 PM - 3:00 PM
Adelaide Convention Centre
Australia’s Next Wave of Quantum
Quantum Solutions to Australia’s Most Significant National Challenges
This showcase brings together 18 projects funded through the Australian Government’s Critical Technologies Challenge Program.
Hear directly from industry trailblazers working alongside quantum companies and research organisations to tackle Australia’s most pressing, market-led challenges, including:
• Minerals exploration, extraction and processing
• The performance, sustainability and security of energy networks
• Improved diagnosis and treatment of disease
• Better health outcomes for First Nations peoples
Delivered in a fast-paced, rapid-fire format, this session offers a snapshot of the real impact quantum technologies are already having across Australia, and where they’re headed next.
The Next Wave
of
Quantum Startups
This showcase session highlights six new quantum startups emerging from the Quantum Australia NewQ program, Australia’s national pre-accelerator for early-stage quantum ventures.
Spanning quantum computing, sensing, communications and enabling technologies, each company will present their journey from research insight to commercial opportunity, outlining the problem they are tackling, the approach they are taking, and where they are headed next.
This session offers a fast-paced snapshot of the next wave of quantum innovation, and the founders translating deep science into market-ready solutions.
Your place in the ecosystem
Government &
Policy Makers
Advance national capability and productivity through quantum.
Universities & Researchers
Translate research into industry and government outcomes.
Investors
Source credible deal flow and emerging growth opportunities.
Quantum Industry
Accelerate commercial pathways and industry adoption.
Industry & End-Users
Identify practical quantum solutions for operational advantage.
International Delegates
Build partnerships within Australia’s quantum ecosystem.
Our Sponsors
Diamond Sponsors
Gold Sponsor
Poster Area Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
Lanyard Sponsor
Adelaide, South Australia, is a growing hub for defence, space, and advanced manufacturing, industries where quantum delivers measurable advantage.With the Australian Space Agency headquartered in Adelaide and significant investment in defence innovation, the state is a natural host for showcasing quantum’s role in sovereign capability, economic productivity, and commercial impact.Location
Adelaide Convention Centre
North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia
