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Rocky Mountain Conference on Magnetic Resonance 2023: Beyond the Summit
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David Cory is a Professor of Chemistry & Canada Excellence Research Chair Laureate, Quantum Information Processing, at the University of Waterloo. He is also principal investigator for the Canada First Research Excellence Fund in Transformative Quantum Technologies.
David is a physical chemist working to develop quantum devices for sensing and computation. Earlier sensors have found applications in fields as varied as cancer diagnostics, materials processing for tires, improved sensitivity for oil exploration, and a sensor for dark matter searches. Startups spun out of his lab develop quantum sensors with medical, biochemical and materials applications. His current research involves magnetic resonance and its applications, spin-based quantum information processors, quantum complexity, and neutron interferometry.
David has a PhD in chemistry from Case Western Reserve University. Prior to his appointment at the University of Waterloo, he was a Professor of Nuclear Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
As Engineering Manager, Ishit is responsible for guiding the engineering team’s vision to provide advanced, effective, and user-friendly products. He is passionate about creating the best possible user experience by engaging with customers and the research team to translate complex specifications into innovative and optimized solutions through enhanced system development and testing. He also leads High Q’s extensive co-op program, in partnership with Canada’s top universities, seeking to foster the abilities of the next generation of talent at High Q and worldwide.
Prior to joining High Q, Ishit worked as Submarine Optical Systems Software Developer at Ciena, where he developed characterization and communication software used for testing underwater optical lines. He has also served as a software engineer at Global Tech, where he developed telecommunication and RF control software.
Ishit holds a Master of Computer Engineering from the University of Windsor and a Bachelor of Electronics and Communication Engineering from Ganpat University.
In his spare time, Ishit enjoys working as a volunteer at a local charitable organizations, hiking, and gardening. Also, if you want to discuss cricket, he is the right person.
As fractional Chief Financial Officer, Cynthia is responsible for leading High Q’s financial management systems, ensuring strong fiscal responsibility and compliance with local and federal regulatory bodies.
Cynthia has 20 years experience working in fast-paced and transformational environments. She has held executive roles with numerous organizations, including JMP Engineering, TyCorra Investments Inc., and Ontario Die International Inc., where she successfully negotiated a trade agreement with a major tier-two automotive supplier in bankruptcy proceedings. Cynthia has developed financial models designed to facilitate organic and acquisitional growth, driven strategic pricing and new market entry initiatives, and partnered with early-stage companies to secure and manage both private and government funding.
Cynthia holds an Honors B.A. in Chartered Accounting Studies from the University of Waterloo. She is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of both the Canadian and Ontario Institute of Chartered Accountants and the Financial Executives International.
In her spare time, Cynthia can be found exploring the beautiful outdoors while backcountry camping, hiking and adventure traveling with family and friends.
As Applications Scientist, Austin is responsible for developing new EPR applications for structural biology research and drug discovery. He brings a strong desire to demonstrate EPR as a powerful and diverse technique and aid in its widespread adoption by the biomedical and industrial communities. He is passionate about spectroscopy and its instrumentation and is driven to ensure the highest possible experience for the end user.
Before High Q, Austin worked as a field service engineer for Agilent Technologies, working with HPLC and LCMS product lines. This experience fostered his interest in commercial instrumentation and his appreciation for a smooth user experience.
Austin holds a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh and a B.S. in Chemistry from Geneva College. He has authored many peer-reviewed papers on EPR spectroscopy and the use of novel spin labels.
In his spare time, Austin enjoys working on home improvement projects, playing board games, and spending time with his wife and cats.
As VP of R&D, Andy is responsible for guiding the research vision of the organization to revolutionize biophysical EPR measurements. He is a senior executive with more than 30 years’ global experience in delivering profitable growth in highly competitive scientific and technology-based businesses. He has a passion for driving innovation in product and process development to achieve sustained competitive advantage. Throughout his career he has been a leader who builds strongly loyal and committed teams with a diverse culture. He also brings valuable experience in public company M&A and structuring and operating complex business relationships in a global context.
Prior to his current role, Andy led the organization through the crucial research phase. His global experiences include starting, acquiring and running manufacturing and R&D groups in Canada, USA, Singapore, China, the Netherlands, Austria and Denmark. Andy’s experience in the scientific-instruments industry includes acting as Chairman and CEO at Tornado, where he launched a Raman spectrometry system for industrial process monitoring. Previously, he was President of Bruker’s Applied markets division with ICP-MS, GC and LC-MS products focused on petrochemical and pharmaceutical markets and President of Sciex, growing the drug screening and biochemical testing businesses.
Andy holds an MBA from the University of Toronto, a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a First Class Honours B.Sc. in Chemistry from Thames Polytechnic in the UK.
In his spare time, Andy enjoys playing soccer, attending Formula 1 races, and spending time at the cottage with his family.
As VP of Research and Development, Andrew is accountable for product development from initial concept through to the final transfer to production. He is an accomplished technology leader with over 20 years of experience in product development, pre-clinical research, and business development.
Before High Q, Andrew was Director of Research and Development at NDI, overseeing new product development, early-stage technology research, and sustaining engineering for in-market products Previously, Andrew worked in business development at NDI, supporting customers in their quest to integrate spatial measurement and tracking into their platforms for neurosurgery, cardiac interventions, needle biopsy, and others.
Andrew holds a Ph.D. in Medical Biophysics from Western University, plus an M.A.Sc. and a B.A.Sc. in Systems Design Engineering from the University of Waterloo. His academic collaborations resulted in several publications focused on the implementation and performance characteristics of different image-guided surgery systems across various surgical disciplines. He also has several patents and patent applications.
In his spare time, Andrew spends time with his family and training athletes at the local soccer club.
As Senior Scientist, Troy is responsible for all aspects of developing the innovative technologies that enable the organization’s vision to harness the power of quantum physics to aide scientists in developing life-saving treatments. He is an internationally recognized scientist with numerous peer-reviewed publications and patents in quantum physics, quantum control, and oil-well logging. He is passionate about understanding the fundamental workings of nature and applying that understanding to create new technologies and quantum devices that have a significant and immediate impact on society. He brings more than 15 years of innovative research and development experience in quantum computing, magnetic resonance, and quantum optics.
Prior to joining High Q, Troy was a Mitacs Elevate postdoctoral fellow with the University of Waterloo’s Institute for Quantum Computing. During this time, he led the team of researchers whose ideas and developments became the foundation of High Q. He also developed a passion for teaching through supporting and mentoring numerous students and other young researchers. He also previously worked at Schlumberger-Doll Research to enhance their oil-well logging measurements through the use of quantum control.
Troy holds a Ph.D. in Nuclear Science and Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and Applied Physics from Tufts University.
In his spare time, Troy enjoys keeping active with soccer and hiking, and nurturing his passion for music by playing guitar and piano.
As Director of Product Management, Rudy is responsible for turning High Q’s revolutionary research developments into viable products that exceed customer expectations. He is a senior technology executive with over 10 years of experience leading efforts to bring high-tech products to market. Rudy firmly believes that the Voice of the Customer must be heard above all others and works to focus the efforts of the design team on delivering solutions that resonate with users and put the customer first. He is passionate about creating novel and transformative products that lead to better patient outcomes.
Prior to joining High Q, Rudy held several global roles with PerkinElmer Health Sciences, where his passion for improving human health was on display daily. He was instrumental in the development and release of multiple IVD mass spectrometry systems designed for neonatal blood screening. He later used his vision to pivot and adapt these systems for use in Clinical Diagnostics environments. Rudy also led the company’s efforts to establish OEM relationships to expand their Clinical MS reagent portfolio. Prior to his work with PerkinElmer, Rudy held various roles within Product Development and Program Management with Sciex.
Rudy holds an MBA with a specialization in Leadership from the University of Liverpool, as well as an Honours B.S. with a minor in Physics from the University of Waterloo.
In his spare time, Rudy enjoys playing and watching soccer. He is avid fan of everything SpaceX, loves learning about Electric Vehicles and according to his wife and children, he spends entirely too much time looking after his multiple aquariums.
Wendy is responsible for leading High Q’s vision to harness the power of quantum technology to aid scientists in developing life-saving treatments. She is a global business executive who delivers unprecedented results by understanding unmet market needs and expanding strategic partnerships with customers. She brings more than 20 years of executive leadership expertise in the healthcare capital equipment, biotechnology and pharmaceutical markets across large public, privately held, and venture-funded organizations.
Prior to joining High Q, Wendy was Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing at United Imaging Healthcare heading the company’s launch and rapid scale into North America. Previously, she was Global Vice President of Sales, Marketing, and Product Management at Rapid Micro Biosystems, where she transformed the global commercial organization for the company’s innovative product line of rapid microbial detection methods for pharmaceutical and biotechnology manufacturing. She has also served as Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Freudenberg Medical, a global contract manufacturer of medical devices and as Vice President of Sales at GE Healthcare.
Wendy holds an MBA and Master of Finance from Tulane University and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Louisiana State University.
In her spare time, Wendy enjoys keeping active with spin classes and adventure travel with her family.
Doug Fregin is Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Quantum Valley Investments.
Mr. Fregin served as the Vice President of Operations and as a Director of RIM until he retired in 2007. He was instrumental in evaluating various materials, fabrication technologies and design of the first circuit boards used in early versions of the company’s wireless technology that became standard in the BlackBerry.
Mr. Fregin studied electrical engineering at the University of Windsor. He was awarded the Queen’s II Diamond Jubilee Medal and is a Member of the Order of Canada. He also shares a Technical Emmy Award (1994) for Development of a Keycode Reader with Kodak and the National Film Board of Canada.
Currently, Mr. Fregin devotes a significant amount of his time and resources assisting various African Charitable Projects, including the establishment and operation of a Vocational School in rural Uganda. He also has made contributions to a number of other philanthropic endeavours, including donations to the Nanotechnology Initiative and the Quantum-Nano Centre at the University of Waterloo, as well as the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics.
Cosimo Fiorenza has played a major role in the development of the Quantum Valley in Waterloo Region. Mr. Fiorenza is the Vice-President and General Counsel of Quantum Valley Investments, where he has helped to establish numerous quantum technology start-up companies. He serves as a director and officer of several of the start-ups, actively supporting them in a spectrum of matters, including recruitment, finances, intellectual property, fundraising, and government relations.
He is a founding member of the Perimeter Institute Board of Directors. In addition to his role as Vice-Chair of the Board, Mr. Fiorenza is a member of both the Finance Committee and the Investment Committee, and previously served as Co-Chair of the Perimeter Institute Leadership Council. He also is the Chair of the Board of Directors of Friends of Perimeter Institute and a member of the Board of Directors of AIMS-NEI Canada, one of Perimeter’s global outreach partners.
Mr. Fiorenza also helped to establish the Institute for Quantum Computing at the University of Waterloo and remains an active member of the IQC Board of Directors and Finance Committee. In 2016, he helped establish Quantum Valley Ideas Lab, a charitable organization focused on applied quantum research and specifically the development of new quantum technologies that will be the basis for new products and new businesses in Canada. Mr. Fiorenza serves as Vice-Chair of Ideas Lab and is also a member of its Finance Committee and Investment Committee.
Previously, he spent approximately 20 years with major Toronto law firms, advising some of Canada’s leading corporations and entrepreneurs on income tax and commercial matters, with a focus on technology and international structure. Mr. Fiorenza holds a degree in business administration from Lakehead University and a law degree from the University of Ottawa. He was called to the Bar in Ontario in 1991.
Mike Lazaridis is Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Quantum Valley Investments.
Mr. Lazaridis co-founded and served in various positions at BlackBerry (formerly Research In Motion), including Co-Chairman and Co-CEO of RIM from 1984 to 2012 and Board Vice Chair and Chair of the Innovation Committee from 2012 to retirement in 2013.
In addition to founding the Quantum-Nano Centre, Mr. Lazaridis established in 2000 the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics (PI), where he serves as Board Chair. PI has been widely recognized as a leading international centre for Physics research, training and outreach. His efforts also have helped generate important private and public sector funding in support of the Institute. He has donated more than $170 million to Perimeter and more than $100 million to IQC.
He is a Fellow of both the Royal Societies of London and Canada and has been named to both the Order of Ontario and Order of Canada. He was awarded Canada’s most prestigious innovation prize – the Ernest C. Manning Principal Award. He also was listed on Maclean’s Honour Roll as a distinguished Canadian in 2000 after opening the Perimeter Institute, was named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People, was honored as a Globe and Mail Nation-Builder of the Year and received the 2018 IEEE Honorary Membership.
Mr. Lazaridis holds an honorary doctoral degree in Engineering from the University of Waterloo (where he formerly served as Chancellor), as well as a doctor of Laws from McMaster University, University of Windsor, Université Laval and University of Western Ontario.
Mr. Lazaridis was born in Istanbul, Turkey. He and his family moved to Canada in 1966, settling in Windsor. At age 12, he won a prize at the Windsor Public Library for reading every science book in the library. In 1979, he enrolled at the University of Waterloo to study electrical engineering. During his last year at university, he co-founded RIM.
As Director of Quality, Muhammad is responsible for ensuring the quality of the organization’s products meets the highest international standards. He is passionate about enabling customers to maximize their potential through products that are well-tested, robust, and certified. He brings more than 10 years of experience in Quality Engineering, Quality Assurance, and Quality Management Systems conforming to ISO 9001:2015.
Prior to joining High Q, Muhammad worked as Senior Quality Engineer at automotive supplier Mechtron Innovations and as Quality Management System Auditor at Canadian Solar. He is a member of the Association for Project Management in the UK, the Chartered Management Institute UK, the American Society for Quality and Project Management Institute.
Muhammad holds an MBA from the University of Derby in the UK and a B.Sc. Honours in Environmental Science from the University of Peshawar. He is a current ASQ Certified Quality Engineer, an ASQ Certified Six Sigma Green Belt, and a trained project management professional in PMI and PRINCE2 PMBOK.
In his spare time, Muhammad enjoys travelling the world, being close to nature, reading, hiking and spending time with his family.
As VP of Operations, Don is responsible for ensuring the organization runs efficiently and productively. He is an accomplished technology executive, with over 20 years of process and product development, commercialization, and manufacturing experience. He joined Quantum Valley Investments in 2015, and has been supporting High Q since 2016.
Prior to High Q, Don was VP of Components at BlackBerry, where he oversaw the road-mapping, selection, development, and qualification of the full product line’s electro-optical parts. Previously, Don provided manufacturing and cost modeling expertise to global clients at CH2M Hill, and was VP of Product Planning at flat panel display developer iFire Technologies. He was also Chair of the Display Manufacturing and Green Technologies committees at the Society for Information Display.
Don holds a Master of Materials Science & Engineering from McMaster University and a B.A.Sc. in Systems Design Engineering from the University of Waterloo. He has a number of publications and patents related to the design of electro-optical devices.
In his spare time, Don enjoys travelling and exploring nature with his family, developing small technology projects, attempting to play golf, and anything space-related.