2026 Speakers
2026 Distinguished Speakers
Prof. Gia Parish
Director, UWA Defence and Security Institute
The University of Western Australia
Giacinta (Gia) Parish is Director, Defence & Security Institute and Professor, School of Engineering at the University of Western Australia; and a Director on the Board of AROSE. Professor Parish joined UWA after completing a PhD at the University of California, Santa Barbara as a Fulbright Scholar. She has a multidisciplinary background in electronic engineering, materials science and chemistry; particularly advanced semiconductor materials and device technologies.
Speaking at
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1:30–2:45pmWed 25 MarPublic-Private RoundtablesUniClub - Roundtable Room 1Open
Roadmap for AI and Quantum
[Roundtable] How to Design Quantum-Safe Systems - A Post-Quantum Cryptography Migration Plan for Critical Infrastructure
Public-Private RoundtablesUniClub - Roundtable Room 1Open
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Edwin ChenDirector of Solution EngineeringST Engineering
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Bavani ChettySenior Manager, Cyber Digital TrustDeloitte
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Eamonn DarcyChief Technology OfficerAQ Intelligence
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Prof. Gavin BrennenChief Quantum OfficerBTQ Technologies
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Prof. Gia ParishDirector, UWA Defence and Security InstituteThe University of Western Australia
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Mats ParkinsonDirectorBare Cove Technology
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Prof. Michael SmallCSIRO-UWA Chair of Complex Systems, Professor & DirectorUWA Data Institute
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Dr. Rajiv ShahDirectorAustralian Information Security Association
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Tara LieCyber Security GRC Manager / PhD CandidateDepartment of Water & Environmental Regulation / Edith Cowan University
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Robert LaurieChief Security ArchitectCiphershieldModerator
About this session
Quantum computing is driving a security transition—not because the “quantum apocalypse is tomorrow,” but because long-lived data and systems in finance, government identity, healthcare, defence, energy networks and communications can be compromised today through “harvest now, decrypt later.” The systemic risk is straightforward: if we wait until the last minute, migration becomes chaotic, expensive, and operationally disruptive while compromising critical systems.
This is a how-to roundtable for moving from PQC awareness to execution. Banks, big tech, government, security agencies and critical infrastructure operators will align on practical steps: cryptographic inventory, crypto-agility, standards alignment, vendor and supply-chain readiness, procurement language, testing, and staged migration—so organisations can upgrade without breaking interoperability or service continuity.
Outcomes: Insights from discussions will contribute towards GFTN's work on a practical Quantum-Safe Migration Starter Pack with priority systems list, decision points, recommended timelines and a minimum target state for crypto-agility plus a shortlist of “next-wave” opportunities worth piloting. -

