Dr. Catherine Lefebvre is Senior Advisor for the Open Quantum Institute at GESDA.

She has years of experience in building strategic relationships as well as research & innovation partnerships in global quantum and artificial intelligence ecosystems.

Until recently, Catherine was Vice President Global Policy and Partnerships at PASQAL, a full-stack quantum computing company. She was also convenor of a European Committee for Standardization working group, on the topic of quantum computing and is co-chair of an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Standard Association working group on quantum computing.

She previously worked as Innovation Ambassador US & Canada at M Squared Lasers, Scientific Advisor in quantum technology for the Quebec Government, Scientific Liaison Officer in artificial intelligence for the National Bank of Canada and for the startup ElementAI (acquired by ServiceNow).

Catherine has a background in research and holds a PhD in molecular physics and theoretical quantum chemistry from Université Paris-Sud and Université Laval. She then pursued research as postdoctoral fellow and research associate for almost a decade, at the Université de Sherbrooke, the Canadian Space Agency and the Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique.