Workshop: Renae Barlow – Understanding Quantum; A Session on Quantum, High-performance Computing, and AI in Problem Solving

Quantum computing is moving from research curiosity to applied capability, and the pressure to understand it is reaching people who are not, and do not need to be, technical specialists. This session builds that understanding directly, in clear and everyday language. In about one hour, it explains how quantum computers actually work, from the qubit up, and then turns to what matters most for organizations: what happens when quantum, high-performance computing, and AI are combined to solve real problems.
That combination is the heart of the session. On its own, a quantum computer is a specialized instrument. Working alongside high-performance computing and AI, it becomes far more useful, because quantum extends how many variables and competing constraints a system can hold at once. That is where classical computing reaches its limits, and it is why optimization problems long considered out of reach are beginning to find real answers. The session also covers how these machines are built and cooled, the energy demand behind them, and what quantum means for data security and post-quantum cryptography.
The session is designed for senior leaders, founders, ecosystem builders, and professionals who want a grounded understanding of these technologies without a technical background. No preparation is required. Participants leave with a plain-language glossary, a short set of questions for their own organizations, and pointers to women-in-quantum communities.

Renae Barlow is the founder of Summit Stream, a principal-led advisory practice for senior leaders and organizations navigating innovation and emerging technology adoption. She works at the intersection of leadership and advanced computing, translating quantum, artificial intelligence, and high-performance computing into language and decisions that non-technical leaders can act on.
Her perspective is grounded in direct experience. As Vice President of Global Ecosystems at SuperQ Quantum, she led international ecosystem development for a quantum computing company. Over more than twenty years, she has led innovation and economic development across Canada, including as Vice President of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Economic Development Lethbridge, building innovation infrastructure and access to advanced computing.
She has also designed first-of-their-kind programs that broaden participation in technology, including Women Entrepreneurs in STEM and Rural Women in Technology. Her recognition includes Woman of Distinction and a nomination to Canada’s Most Powerful Women Top 100. She brings both fluency in the technology and the ability to make it clear for the people in the room.