Convergence Summit: Quantum & AI in the Northwest

Convergence Summit: AI + Quantum in Cascadia

Quantum and AI are converging faster than most organizations can track, and the Cascadia corridor is emerging as a critical hub for both. This invitation-only summit brings together the public sector, founders, executives, investors, and researchers shaping what comes next, for one focused day of substantive conversation instead of yet another networking mixer.

Join us for a full day exploring what quantum computing is actually good for, how AI and quantum intersect in practice, and how the Seattle and Vancouver regions can build a genuinely cross-border advanced technology corridor. Sessions include a dedicated showcase on British Columbia's quantum ecosystem, panels with leaders from Photonic, The Allen Institute, Microsoft, AI2030, JP Morgan Chase, Amazon AWS, NVIDIA, and a keynote conversation on quantum's five-year horizon. The day closes with a Cascadia networking reception.

Event Logistics

CONVERGENCE SUMMIT: AI + Quantum in Cascadia
Wednesday, October 28, 2026 | 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM PT

Please arrive by 9 AM, no later 9:15 AM. Programming will commence at 9:30 AM PT. Building security is strict, and access requires a custom personal QR code that will be sent to invitees and accepted registrants the day before the event. Only the first 100 registered guests who check in in person will be admitted, so if you RSVP, please make every effort to show up on time. Space cannot be held for late arrivals, unless space opens up.

On the Record and Photography Notice: This is an on-the-record event. Remarks made in sessions, including audience contributions, may be quoted and attributed. Photography, video, and audio recording will take place throughout the day, and images and recordings may be used by Convergence: Tech Policy Institute and its partners in event materials, reports, websites, and social media. By registering for and attending the summit, you consent to being photographed and recorded and to the use of your name, image, voice, and remarks for these purposes.

Convergence: Tech Policy Institute (C:TPI)
AI, quantum, and blockchain are converging faster than the rules meant to govern them. C:TPI, the think tank arm of 1871, the largest global innovation hub, exists to close that gap, mapping the intersections, stress-testing the risks, and building the coherent frameworks that let breakthrough technology scale responsibly. Our mission: turn convergence from a liability into a strategic advantage for the people and institutions shaping what's next. Learn more at https://convergencetpi.org →

AGENDA

9:00 – 9:30 AM | Registration and Welcome Coffee

9:30 – 9:45 AM | Opening Remarks
Arry Yu, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Convergence: Tech Policy Institute

9:45 – 10:15 AM | Opening Keynote: Coherence
Quantum and AI: Where We Actually Are, and Where We Will Be in Five Years
Keynote Speaker: Orlagh Neary, CMO, Photonic

10:15 – 11:00 AM | Panel: The Collision Is Already Here
AI, Quantum, and the Governance Gap
Moderator: Ned Rava, Head of Programmes, UN Joint SDG Fund
Speakers: Mengyu Liu, PhD, Washington State University | Dick Hardt, Hellō (Creator of OAuth, building AAuth) | Donald Thompson, Distinguished Engineer, LinkedIn | Additional speakers TBA

11:00 – 11:45 AM | Panel: The Cascadia Corridor
Building North America's Next Advanced Technology Superregion
Moderator: Emily Fletcher, Associate Vice President, Challenge Seattle | Cascadia Innovation Corridor
Speakers: Dr. Bethany Edmunds, Northeastern University and AI Network of BC | Nirav Desai, Co-Chair of the Innovation Committee, Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER) | Michael Brett, Head of GTM Quantum Technologies, Amazon | Additional speakers TBA

11:45 AM – 12:30 PM | Lunch
Structured networking for delegates, technologists, investors, and researchers.

12:30 – 12:50 PM | Lightning Keynotes: AI for the Planet
Presented by Convergence: Tech Policy Institute

12:30 PM | Keynote I: AI for the Hard Problems: What the World Still Needs
Chris Emura, Executive Director and Head of Applied Science and Technology, Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence

12:40 PM | Keynote II: AI for Good: When the Stakes Are Human
Juan Lavista Ferres, CVP and Chief Data Scientist, Microsoft AI for Good Lab

12:50 – 1:35 PM | Panel: Your CEO Has an AI Strategy. Does Your Infrastructure?
Enterprise AI Adoption | Presented by AI2030
Moderator: Patrick O'Briant, Partner, Fall Line Partners
Speakers: Harpreet Singh, Technology Architecture Strategy and Governance, JPMorgan Chase | Aaron Gustafson, Principal Technical Program Manager, Accessibility Engineering, Microsoft | Xiaochen Zhang, CEO and Chief AI Officer, AI2030 | Kevin Owens, CEO, Resect AI

1:35 – 2:10 PM | Panel: Who's Responsible in the Intelligence Age?
You are already liable for decisions your AI made. You just don't know it yet.
Presented by Convergence: Tech Policy Institute
Moderator: Professor Onur Bakiner, PhD, Director, Technology Ethics Initiative, Seattle University | Author, Governing AI: A Primer
Speakers: Yuki Ishigawa, Chair, AI Taskforce, Washington State Attorney General | Cassaundra Howell, CEO, Empathy AI | Jonathan Barry, VP Global Government Affairs and Public Policy, LawZero | Tim Walton, Co-Founder and Chief AI Officer, Resect AI

2:10 – 2:30 PM | Afternoon Break: Coffee and Cross-Border Conversations

2:30 – 3:15 PM | Panel: Who Gets Left Behind When the Economy Rewires Itself?
AI, Quantum, and the Convergent Future of Work | Presented by AI2030
Moderator: Mary Nam, Governor-Appointed Regent, WSU | Former KOMO TV Anchor
Speakers: David Lara, Executive Director, AI2030 | Chris Emura, Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence | Bleu Blakslee, Managing Director, Quantum Philanthropy Partners | Additional speakers TBA

3:15 – 4:00 PM | Showcase: BC's Secret Sauce: How a Canadian Province Beat Silicon Valley at Quantum and AI
Presented by the Consulate General of Canada, Anchor Partner
Moderator: Dr. Bethany Edmunds, Northeastern University and AI Network of BC
Speakers: Orlagh Neary, CMO, Photonic | Kathryn Hayashi, Board Chair, Quantum Algorithm Institute | Zheng Cui, CTO, IonQ | Carlyn Loncaric, Founder and CEO, AquaEye | Additional speakers TBA

4:00 – 4:30 PM | Closing Keynote: Convergence
AI, Quantum, and the Geopolitical Stakes of Getting Governance Wrong
Keynote Speaker: Alvin Wang Graylin, Stanford HAI Fellow | University of Washington

4:30 – 5:30 PM | Cascadia Reception
Presented by the Consulate General of Canada
Canada-branded closing reception connecting delegates, investors, cross-border prospects, and regional partners.

Join the conversation: Every panel includes an open seat for the audience. Attendees can step up at the right moment, introduce themselves with their name and company, and add their perspective to the discussion, on the record.

With thanks to our partners and sponsors, whose support makes this summit possible: Convergence: Tech Policy Institute (C:TPI), AI2030, Consulate General of Canada, Invest Vancouver, Trade & Invest BC, Amazon Web Services, WTIA, Northwest Quantum Nexus (NQN), and K&L Gates.

Additional organizing support provided by Birdsight.ai and the Seattle Quantum Computing Meetup Group.

We look forward to welcoming you.

Arry Yu
Host and Event Producer
Convergence: Tech Policy Institute

About:

Convergence: Tech Policy Institute (C:TPI)
Convergence: Tech Policy Institute is a Seattle-based advanced tech policy organization and the think tank arm of 1871, the largest global innovation hub, focused on the intersection of AI, quantum computing, and other emerging technologies, working to build practical frameworks and coherent standards for a rapidly converging technology landscape. https://convergencetpi.org

AI 2030
AI 2030 is a global nonprofit initiative advancing the responsible development and governance of artificial intelligence. It brings together leaders across industry, government, academia, and civil society to close gaps in talent, awareness, and policy so AI benefits people broadly.

Invest in Canada
Invest in Canada is the Government of Canada's national investment promotion agency, mandated to attract, facilitate, and accelerate foreign direct investment into Canada in partnership with provinces, municipalities, and industry stakeholders.

Invest Vancouver
Invest Vancouver is Metro Vancouver's regional economic development service, working to attract strategic investment, foster global collaboration, and grow high-quality jobs across the region's key export-oriented industries.

Trade and Invest BC
Trade and Invest BC is the Government of British Columbia's trade and investment agency, helping international companies establish and grow a business presence in B.C. across sectors including technology, life sciences, aerospace, clean energy, and digital media.

Amazon Quantum
Amazon Quantum refers to AWS's quantum computing initiatives, including Amazon Braket, a managed service for building and testing quantum algorithms, and the AWS Center for Quantum Computing, which advances quantum hardware and applications in partnership with leading research institutions.

WTIA (Washington Technology Industry Association)
WTIA is Washington State's technology trade association, working to accelerate startups, attract investment, and shape smart policy across AI, quantum, and other advanced technologies to make the Pacific Northwest a global hub for innovation.

Northwest Quantum Nexus (NQN)
Northwest Quantum Nexus is a collaborative organization advancing quantum research, talent, and innovation across Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana, working to build a thriving regional quantum economy.