Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
I have spent thirty years working at the intersection of foundational science, education, and institutional leadership — looking for ways to make science more accessible, more connected, and more useful to the world. As co-founder and CEO of Open Quantum Design, I lead a non-profit building the world's first open-source, full-stack quantum computer — alongside scientific co-founders at the University of Waterloo and Perimeter Institute's Quantum Intelligence Lab. Modelled on the Linux Foundation and RISC-V — open governance, shared infrastructure, broad participation — OQD is an open platform bringing together academia, industry, and government to accelerate quantum technology for the broadest possible community. Before OQD, I spent fifteen years at Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, most recently as Executive Director of Advancement and Senior Director of Public Engagement. I had the privilege of helping raise over $80 million for foundational research and training, and of growing Perimeter's outreach into a global network now used by educators in 145 countries, reaching tens of millions of students in their classrooms. Earlier, I taught high school physics, co-authored physics textbooks still used in Canadian classrooms, and led Innovation150 as a Canada 150 Signature Project — work recognised by the American Physical Society with its Excellence in Physics Education Award. Much of my current work involves building bridges between Canada and the global quantum ecosystem. In October 2025, I had the privilege of joining Lisa Lambert of Quantum Industry Canada in Busan to brief the APEC Business Advisory Council on the future of quantum across the Asia-Pacific. I am honoured to be a Distinguished Alumnus of the University of Waterloo's Faculty of Science and a Gold Medallist of the MSc in Innovation Management at Wilfrid Laurier's Lazaridis School. Foundational science — shared widely and connected well — is one of the most powerful tools we have for shaping the future. I'm always interested in talking with funders, policymakers, industry partners, and researchers working on the future of open Quantum infrastructure.
Open Quantum Design (OQD) is a Canadian non-profit building the world's first open-source, full-stack trapped-ion quantum computer, in partnership with the University of Waterloo's Institute for Quantum Computing and Perimeter Institute's Quantum Intelligence Lab. Modelled on the Linux Foundation and RISC-V, OQD provides shared open hardware, software, and governance to academia, industry, and government — accelerating quantum research and lowering the barrier to entry for the global community. As co-founding CEO, I lead strategy, fundraising, government engagement, and international partnerships. Recent work includes briefing APEC Business Advisory Council on Asia-Pacific quantum cooperation and building Canada-Singapore engagement.
Teaching physics methods to pre-service secondary teachers in Brock's Faculty of Education
Perimeter Institute is an independent, non-profit research institute dedicated to foundational discovery in theoretical physics and to sharing the importance of science with the broadest possible community. Over fourteen years at Perimeter, I helped build the institute's advancement and public engagement functions into nationally and internationally recognised programs. Executive Director of Advancement and Senior Director of Public Engagement January 2020 – August 2023 Led Perimeter's Advancement function, helping raise over $80 million for foundational research, training programs, and capacity-building initiatives. Oversaw the integrated strategy across fundraising, government relations, and public engagement — connecting donor, policy, and educator communities to Perimeter's scientific mission. Represented Perimeter to senior government, philanthropic, and international partners; supported negotiations with federal and provincial funders. Stewarded relationships with major individual donors, foundations, and corporate partners across Canada and internationally.
Built Perimeter's educational outreach into a global network of teachers and students, with classroom resources now used by educators in 145 countries. Led Innovation150, a Canada 150 Signature Project delivering science engagement to hundreds of thousands of Canadians — recognised by the American Physical Society with its Excellence in Physics Education Award. Developed multi-partner national collaborations across Canada's research and science-outreach ecosystem, including the lessons-learned framework later published as Innovation 150: Lessons Learned on National Pan-organizational Outreach Collaborations (2018). Grew the team, programs, and partnerships supporting Perimeter's teacher network, public lectures, and digital education products.
Since the beginning of 2020 when work began on this stream of research The Conference Board, in cooperation with the Future Skills Centre, has published a suite of materials; some are linked to below.