The Next Generation Quantum Innovators panel occurred during the Market Acceleration breakout track at Quantum World Congress 2024 featuring: Sabina Sokol, Girls in Quantum; Jade LeSchack, University of Maryland; Srimaye Peddinti, Physaurus; and Ona Ambrozaite, Johns Hopkins Science Diplomacy Hub.

Sabina Sokol is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Girls in Quantum, an international organization that is building the most diverse, adept, globally-minded quantum workforce possible. She also serves as the Associate Lead for the American Council on Technology Industry Advisory Council (ACT-IAC) Quantum Working Group, which cultivates knowledge of quantum use cases, priorities, workforce development, and risk mitigation across government and industry to advance effective leadership and policy across technology sectors. She is a cybersecurity expert with a research interest in cyber-physical systems, a published scholar in the quantum cybersecurity community, and has worked at multiple nationals labs on critical infrastructure and resiliency projects. Beyond her research and academic studies, she is a former soloist in the second largest ballet company in Bay Area, California, and now a national ballroom champion. She is now a mentor and lecturer at the Institute for Computing in Research.

Jade LeSchack is a student at the University of Maryland and conducts research in quantum thermodynamics. She is the Founder and President of the Undergraduate Quantum Association at the University of Maryland, which connects students with opportunities in quantum science. Jade has organized quantum hackathons and career events. Jade has experience in both theoretical and experimental quantum physics. She is interested in working with people across academia, industry, and government to realize quantum technologies.

Srimaye Peddinti is a rising freshman at the University of Chicago, planning on pursuing a major in Quantum Molecular Engineering. Throughout high school, I have been invested in quantum research and education. As an aspiring contributor on both fronts, I created an organization to promote quantum education for high school age students as well as spearheaded both individual and group research projects at school and through university labs. I am excited to continue developing and embellishing both the research and education side of quantum as my career progresses, and advancing the communities around me through those means.

Ona Ambrozaite is the Co-Director of the Johns Hopkins Science Diplomacy Hub. Ona Ambrozaite is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Chemistry and the NSF GRFP Fellow with a focus on developing semiconducting materials with unique optoelectronic properties for quantum information science applications. Ona's extensive international experience inspired her to spearhead large-scale collaborative science diplomacy projects with Ghent University in Belgium, University of St. Gallen in Switzerland, as well as Embassies of Switzerland, Finland, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, Brazil, Belgium, and more. Ona and Nobel Laureate Prof. Peter Agre launched the Science Diplomacy Hub at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Center in Washington, D.C., in 2023 and have created a strong platform for convenings with access to the heart of science diplomacy in D.C. The activities have an emphasis on international topics and allow various delegations (diplomats, policymakers, academics, private sector, NGOs, etc.) to connect. Ona looks forward to using science diplomacy as a tool for cooperation at the service of development, innovation and global issues.

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