EQUS Director appointed to National Quantum Advisory Committee

EQUS Director Professor Andrew White has been appointed to the National Quantum Advisory Committee, along with 14 other leaders from business, science, technology and government.

The National Quantum Advisory Committee, announced by the Minister for Industry and Science, Ed Husic MP, will help drive Australia’s National Quantum Strategy, which is expected to be delivered by the end of the year.

The 15-person committee, chaired by Australia’s Chief Scientist Dr Cathy Foley AO, will be an integral part of the push to coordinate Australia’s quantum capability across research, industry and government.

CSIRO conservatively estimates quantum technology in Australia could be a $4 billion industry in computing, communications and sensing, creating 16,000 jobs by 2040.

With expertise across research and development, commercialisation, investment, supply chains and national security, the committee will guide the government’s National Quantum Strategy to drive industry growth, and focus national efforts to bolster Australia’s international reputation as a quantum research and commercialisation powerhouse.

The advisory committee members, in alphabetical order by surname, are:

  • Professor Michael Biercuk, Q-CTRL, University of Sydney
  • Ms Clare Birch, Blackbird
  • Dr Simon Devitt, UTS, h-Bar
  • Professor Bronwyn Fox, CSIRO Chief Scientist
  • Professor Lloyd Hollenberg, University of Melbourne IBM Quantum Hub
  • Professor Andre Luiten, QuantX Labs, University of Adelaide
  • Professor Tanya Monro, Australia’s Chief Defence Scientist
  • Professor Ed Santow, Human Technology Institute, UTS
  • Dr Vikram Sharma, Australian Quantum Alliance (Tech Council of Australia) and Quintessence Labs
  • Professor Michelle Simmons, Silicon Quantum Computing, UNSW
  • Mr Mark Stickells, Pawsey Supercomputing Centre
  • Professor Peter Turner, Sydney Quantum Academy, Macquarie University
  • Ms Jennifer Westacott, Business Council of Australia
  • Professor Andrew White, University of Queensland and ARC Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems (EQUS)

Major funding support

Australian Research Council

The Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems (EQUS) acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present.