Detailed Program

Fuel for the day

Welcome Remarks and Indigenous Opening

Regenerative Innovation and Quantum Communications in a Carbon Neutral Energy Future

Dr. Yutaka Sata, CTO, Toshiba

Anouk Kendall, President, Decentralised Energy Canada

The current state of quantum technologies shows rapid growth in investment and talent, with 2025 declared the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology. Learn more about the commercialisation challenges and opportunities associated with quantum computing, quantum sensors, and communication systems for practical, widespread use.

Michel Pioro-Ladrière, Directeur Général, Distriq

Widespread applications of AI are modernising the electricity grid making it smarter and more responsive to the changing needs of customers. We are gaining real-time visibility into grid performance and energy demand enabling automated energy flow adjustments, faster outage response, and proactive prevention of potential issues—enhancing both reliability and efficiency across the system.

Nils Frenkel, North American BD Leader, Schneider Electric

Neural networks can transform energy modeling, but concerns about reliability and transparency limit their use in critical sectors. This session introduces new approaches to making AI safer and more dependable, highlighting real-world applications such as predicting building energy use for virtual power plants.

Antoine Lesage-Landry, Associate Academic Member, Mila & Associate Professor, Polytechnique Montréal

Recharge

Quantum technologies are rapidly evolving from theoretical breakthroughs to practical tools with the potential to transform industries. Achieving the quantum advantage in real-world applications requires more than technical progress. It demands robust collaboration across academia, industry, and government to develop purpose-built algorithms, scalable systems, and domain-specific solutions.

This session shares real-world use-cases where quantum computing shows promise for being tested or deployed in decentralised energy and shares insights into the challenges of integrating quantum technologies into existing workflows.

PRESENTATION: Adam Bene-Watts, Scientist-in-Residence, Quantum City

PANEL: 

Ryan Kresevic (Moderator), Manager Corporate Engagement, Quantum City

Andrew Muir, Strategy and Transformation Director, Schneider Electric

Brent Harris, Founder and COO, Eguana Technologies

Alexandre Choquette, Global Strategic Research Development, IBM Quantum

Adam Bene-Watts, Scientist-in-Residence, Quantum City

Refuel and network

Are you ready to revolutionise the energy sector and be a game-changer in the decentralised energy industry? Apply to the Pitch Competition, a platform designed for early-stage and growth-stage companies to showcase their innovative products and services, secure investments, and forge strategic partnerships.

Finalists will be announcement end of October!

Delivering electricity is not just poles, wires, and power plants — it’s about data, algorithms, and increasingly complex computing. The demand for digital skills for computing, advanced sensors, and communication is skyrocketing but finding talent and knitting their skills into electricity business is a challenge. How can we can tap into new talent pools and build partnerships with tech communities, universities, and non-traditional training programs to drive the grid’s digital future.

PANEL:

Mark Chapeski (Moderator), Vice President, Electricity Human Resources Canada 

Megan Lee, Managing Director, Quantum City

Kevin Nilsen, President and CEO, Eco-Canada

Norbert Lütkenhaus, Executive Director, Institute for Quantum Computing, University of Waterloo

Refresh and network

Advances in remote sensing, aerial imagery, and artificial intelligence are giving utilities a new vantage point on their networks. This session explores how these technologies improve visibility of power lines, turning data into actionable insights that lower costs, increase accuracy, and speed up recovery in remote and high-risk areas.

Jonathan Neufeld, President, IO Aerospace

Explore how advanced and quantum sensors are transforming distribution networks—enabling real-time monitoring, remote diagnostics, and predictive maintenance for transformers, batteries, and other distributed energy resources (DERs) to enhance grid reliability and efficiency.

Emma Wong, Nuclear Principal Lead for Innovation, Quantum Technology, and International Engagement, EPRI

Preparations for Business Matchmaker

This dynamic and popular session is designed to make multiple high-value connections quickly. Many of the most impactful business partnerships emerge from unexpected matches, making it an ideal opportunity to enrich networks, explore collaborations, and uncover new business opportunities.

An elegant evening of networking while enjoying cocktails, beverages, and hors d’oeuvres and listening to live music.