Rethinking Cybersecurity in the Quantum Era
Cyber Pulse 3.0 – CSO Strategic Workshop
- Date: 17 September 2025
- Time: 10:00 AM – 2:30 PM
- Venue: NYU Abu Dhabi
- Format: In-person | Closed Cohort
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Organized by: Vernewell Group in partnership with Center for Quantum and Topological Systems (CQTS), NYU Abu Dhabi
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Under the Initiative of: UAE Cyber Security Council
- Strategic Partners: IBM Quantum , ID Quantique
Workshop Abstract
This strategic executive workshop is organized under the Cyber Pulse 3.0 initiative led by the UAE Cyber Security Council. It is specifically designed for Chief Security Officers (CSOs) and cybersecurity executives who play a leading role in shaping national and institutional cyber strategies. As quantum computing and quantum-resilient technologies begin to alter the global cybersecurity landscape, it is essential that decision-makers understand both the opportunities and implications of these developments.
The CSO Strategic Workshop provides a focused platform to engage with global experts and strategic partners from IBM Quantum, ID Quantique, and NYU Abu Dhabi. Through an immersive and professionally guided program, participants will explore how quantum technologies are impacting governance, regulatory frameworks, infrastructure protection, and cybersecurity policy. The sessions will equip CSOs with the strategic vision, technical understanding, and institutional foresight necessary to lead through this next era of digital transformation.
About the Workshop
The CSO Strategic Workshop is curated to support high-level leadership engagement with quantum cybersecurity. Participants will gain a well-rounded understanding of how quantum computing intersects with encryption, critical system design, and regulatory compliance. Sessions are structured to balance strategic insights with applied examples, encouraging participants to explore how their own institutions can prepare for quantum risks and leverage new capabilities.
The program builds upon Vernewell Group’s role in Cyber Pulse 3.0 and is designed in coordination with institutional and national partners to align with the UAE’s long-term digital security and innovation strategies.
Who Should Attend
This workshop is designed for Chief Security Officers (CSOs) who are responsible for cybersecurity leadership, institutional governance, and strategic planning within both public and private organizations. It is also highly relevant to senior executives and advisors involved in national security, digital transformation, or critical infrastructure protection. Participants may include Chief Information Security Officers, directors of cyber risk and resilience, national cybersecurity strategists, and senior officials overseeing compliance, infrastructure development, and technology policy. The session is intended for leaders who are actively shaping their organizations’ response to emerging threats, and who must align institutional readiness with the evolving priorities of national cyber defense and quantum-era innovation.
Why Attend
This workshop provides the strategic context and technical insight CSOs need to prepare their organizations for quantum cybersecurity challenges. It enables participants to hear directly from the leading global voices shaping quantum computing and security applications, and to explore implementation and leadership frameworks that support proactive planning. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of the technologies involved, the policies in development, and the institutional decisions required to ensure readiness.
What to Expect
Participants will experience an executive workshop that combines high-level discussion, technical exposure, real-world case examples, and structured interaction. Each session is led by an international expert and aligned with executive decision-making, providing both vision and relevance. From quantum system architecture and cybersecurity applications to leadership frameworks and procurement considerations, the sessions will support CSOs in forming a complete view of how quantum advances are impacting cybersecurity planning.
Workshop Agenda
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10:00 – 10:15 AM | Welcome Note Address
Speaker: Prof. Hisham Sati, Director, Center for Quantum and Topological Systems, NYU Abu Dhabi
The workshop will begin with opening remarks by Professor Hisham Sati, who will welcome participants and provide academic context for the day’s program. His address will highlight NYU Abu Dhabi’s leadership in advancing quantum research and the university’s continued collaboration with national institutions in the fields of cybersecurity, mathematics, and digital strategy. Professor Sati will frame the workshop as a timely and necessary engagement between policy, science, and institutional leadership. -
10:15 – 11:00 AM | Session 1: Strategic Leadership in the Quantum Era: Governance, Risk & Institutional Readiness
Speaker: Malak Trabelsi Loeb, CEO at Vernewell Group, Internationa Business Law Jurist specialized in Space Law, Tech Law, and National Security Law (Dual Use & Tech Transfer)
This session will address the evolving responsibilities of Chief Security Officers in a cybersecurity environment increasingly shaped by quantum innovation. Malak Trabelsi Loeb will guide participants through a strategic framework that aligns cybersecurity leadership with emerging legal, regulatory, and policy dimensions introduced by quantum disruption. Participants will explore institutional models of governance that integrate quantum considerations into compliance, risk forecasting, procurement strategy, and sovereign infrastructure control. Drawing from real-world advisory experience, the session will examine how institutional policies can be adapted to support long-term cyber resilience and national strategic alignment. The format will combine thought leadership with guided engagement, supporting participants in contextualizing their own institutional readiness within broader cybersecurity transformation objectives. -
11:00 – 12:00 PM | Session 2: IBM Quantum: Technology Foundations and Cybersecurity Applications
Speaker: Dr. Ahmad Al-Qatatsheh, Head of IBM Quantum, Middle East, Africa, and Turkey
In this session, Dr. Ahmad Al-Qatatsheh will provide an expert-led walkthrough of IBM Quantum’s system architecture and operational roadmap, with a focus on its implications for cybersecurity. Participants will be introduced to the core concepts of quantum computing, including system calibration, qubit performance, and gate-level operations, and will learn how these components are being applied to security challenges across global networks. The session will include detailed examples of quantum-enabled use cases in secure computation, threat modeling, encryption acceleration, and optimization. Dr. Al-Qatatsheh will share insights from IBM’s regional collaborations and address the strategic pathways organizations can follow to begin evaluating quantum systems for their operational environments. Participants will be encouraged to consider how quantum capabilities might be integrated into national and institutional risk models, while also exploring vendor readiness and enterprise integration timelines. -
12:00 – 1:00 PM | Session 3: Securing the Future with Quantum: Mitigating Quantum Threats in Practice
Speaker: Richard Schoebel, Regional Director, ID Quantique
This session will focus on how institutions are beginning to deploy quantum-resilient technologies in response to the evolving encryption and communications threat landscape. Richard Schoebel will present a detailed overview of quantum-safe solutions such as Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and Quantum Random Number Generation (QRNG), which are currently being implemented to protect sensitive systems from both current and future attacks. Participants will learn how QKD works in practice, explore real-world case studies from telecom and critical infrastructure environments, and examine models for integrating quantum-safe technologies into enterprise architecture. The session will include discussion on procurement standards, compatibility with existing infrastructure, and how regulatory alignment can support adoption. The format is designed to support CSOs in identifying actionable next steps for implementation planning, leadership communication, and investment strategy in preparation for the post-quantum era. -
1:00 – 1:30 PM | Executive Interaction Session: CSO Reflections and Readiness Mapping
Moderator: Malak Trabelsi Loeb, Vernewell Group In this session, participants will be invited to reflect on the strategic priorities emerging from the day’s presentations and share insights on how their organizations are approaching quantum transformation. Moderated by Vernewell Group, the discussion will focus on executive planning, regulatory integration, stakeholder coordination, and institutional capability building. This session offers CSOs a space to validate their assumptions, identify policy and infrastructure gaps, and collectively shape a roadmap that supports national coordination and operational readiness. -
1:30 – 2:30 PM | Networking Lunch
The program will close with a dedicated networking session over lunch. This opportunity will allow CSOs and guest speakers to continue conversations, initiate partnerships, and exchange perspectives on national cybersecurity strategy, innovation, and leadership in a more informal and collaborative setting
