Anna Beata Kalisz Hedegaard has over 15 years of international experience in deep-tech, telecommunications, and defence communications networks. She brings a truly global perspective, having lived and worked across Poland, Denmark, the United States, Malaysia, the Netherlands, and Germany. Her expertise in intellectual property and advanced communications systems was further strengthened through her work at the European Patent Office and the German Aerospace Center (DLR). Anna holds dual Master of Science degrees in Theoretical Cosmology (Physics) from the University of Southern Denmark, Electrical Engineering from Wright State University USA, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Physics from West Pomeranian University of Technology Poland with a concentration in telecommunications and data systems, conducting research inro radar and radio communications at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS in Malaysia. She currently serves as a board advisor to three technology companies and is the founder and board member of Quantum Prime and Quantum Security Defence, both companies focused on Quantum Secure Communications.  Fluent in English, German, Danish, and Polish, Anna is a Polish citizen residing in Germany, where she lives with her Danish husband and their two children.

Steve Vaile has over 30 years of international business experience, including 18 years in deep tech, specialising in Causal Analysis for telecommunications and defence networks in both technical and commercial roles. He spent 13 years in the Middle East and Southeast Asia as the founder and CEO of an international hospitality group operating across eight jurisdictions. During this period, he also collaborated with the IMF, World Bank, and Royal Government of Cambodia to help establish the Cambodian Credit Bureau. Steve holds executive credentials in Venture Finance & Entrepreneurship from the University of Oxford and Digital Strategy from Yale University, along with an educational dual Master’s in International Business Administration from the Rome Business School and Universidad Internacional de Valencia (VIU). He began his career at the age of 16 in the UK Armed Forces where he worked in Electrical Engineering in expert systems. He currently serves as a board advisor to technology companies and investment funds and is an executive board member and founder at Quantum Security Defence.  He speaks English and French . Steve is a British citizen residing in France, where he lives with his American wife and their two children.

Maciej is a director at MicroEPC, where he advises the Polish microelectronics and photonics industry, coordinated by PPTF - Polish Technological Platform on Photonics. Previously, Maciej served as Defence Programmes Manager at Poland-U.S. Operations and was the General Manager for CMI Defence Polska at John Cockerill. He serves as Executive Advisor to the Board of Directors.

Bernard Soo, brings 20 years of experience in Banking and Wealth Management. He previously served as Head of Wealth Proposition and Online Equities Trading at Standard Chartered and Head of Digital Wealth Proposition at UOB. A former Executive Committee member of the Singapore Fintech Association, Bernard is also the Co-Founder of CitaDAO, a blockchain-based DeFi platform for real estate tokenization.

Dr. Michal Krelina is a specialist in quantum security, working as a consultant, analyst, and strategist with a focus on security and defence applications of quantum technology. He is the Co-Founder and CTO of QUDEF, a quantum security company, a key member of the Quantum Security and Defence Working Group, and he also conducts research at the Czech Technical University in Prague, exploring military applications of quantum technology and assessing risks and threats. In addition, Michal has experience consulting for organizations like NATO, the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA), and various defence, law enforcement and governmental organizations. He holds a PhD in experimental nuclear physics and has postdoctoral experience from UTFSM in Chile and Heidelberg University in Germany. His work is dedicated to understanding the impact of quantum technology on global security, making significant contributions to this rapidly evolving field. Dr Krelina is the author of Military and Security Dimensions of Quantum Technologies: A Primer, published by the STOCKHOLM INTERNATIONAL PEACE RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Ken Lin has over 20 years of experience in banking product strategy and business development. He served as Head of Products in Consumer and Private Banking, where he led the launch of numerous innovative banking products and digital banking platforms that transformed customer experiences and enhanced operational efficiency. Ken holds a Master of Science in Management from University College Dublin.

Professor Julian Richards is a leading expert in intelligence, security, and counter-terrorism, with over three decades of experience across government and academia. Before joining the University of Buckingham as Director of the Centre for Security and Intelligence Studies (BUCSIS), he spent 18 years at the UK’s Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), where he held senior roles in intelligence analysis, training programme design, and strategic liaison. He is a recognised subject matter expert in global security, cybersecurity, intelligence operations, terrorism, counter-terrorism, and extremist ideologies. Professor Richards holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge and has dedicated his career to advancing understanding and education in national and international security. Professor Richards course in Macro Strategic Cybersecurity is hosted on this platform. Julian is a director of Kyba.ai a company that runs sophisticated cyber attack scenarios for industry leaders with live cyber incident simulation.

Chris Basener is an Information Security Management professional with over 20 years of experience in consulting and project leadership. He specialises in helping Boards, C-Suites, and SMBs align cybersecurity strategy with business objectives - mitigating enterprise, legal, and reputational risk while driving profitability. His expertise spans GRC, enterprise risk assessment, and building risk-aware cultures through targeted training and long-term maturity programs. Chris completed MIT xPRO’s “Quantum Computing: Strategy and Impact” QSECDEF’s “Introduction to Quantum Cyber Security” certification, and ISACA’s AAISM credential. A former Director of Security for PMINYC Chapter , Chris combines strategic insight with hands-on execution. Outside work, he enjoys family time, reading, lacrosse, and volunteering as a first responder and ocean rescue lifeguard.