Michael Cuthbert
Michael is the founding Director of the National Quantum Computing Centre, a national laboratory established in 2020 and funded by UKRI. Based at the Harwell Campus in Oxfordshire, the centre addresses the challenges of scaling quantum computing — both the technology and its adoption.
Before joining the centre, Michael spent 22 years at Oxford Instruments, holding technical and commercial leadership roles in Japan, the US and the UK. His most recent roles were as Managing Director of the NanoScience business and Head of Quantum Technologies for the OI Group.
Michael has a background in superconductivity and cryogenic systems. He holds a BSc (Hons) from the University of Glasgow and a PhD from Imperial College London. He is a member of the Institute of Physics and is a member of several advisory panels, including chairing both the Quantum Information Science & Technology and the Superconductivity Centres for Doctoral Training Advisory Boards at University of Bristol, membership of the Science & Technology Advisory Council for National Physical Laboratory, the IEEE IRDS Roadmapping Committee for Cryoelectronics, and the Research Data Advisory Board for Cancer Research UK.
From 2021 to 2025, Michael was Aegis Professor in Quantum Technologies at the University of Bristol.
Elham Kashefi
Elham is Professor of Quantum Computing at the School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh, and Directeur de recherche au CNRS at LIP6 Sorbonne Université. She co-founded the fields of quantum cloud computing and quantum computing verification and has pioneered a transdisciplinary interaction of hybrid quantum-classical solutions from theoretical investigation to actual experimental and industrial commercialisation. Elham is seconded 30% of her time from University of Edinburgh to the NQCC in her capacity as Chief Scientist.
Simon Plant
Prior to joining the NQCC, Simon was the Innovation Lead in Quantum Technologies (QT) at Innovate UK, responsible for shaping and implementing the UK’s innovation strategy for the commercialisation of QT. He managed the portfolio of industry-led projects, as well as leading on international outreach. Simon was previously a fellow of the UK National Quantum Technology Hub in Sensors and Metrology, working on projects with industry and the space agencies towards quantum sensors for space. In 2016, he was seconded to the Government Office for Science to work on the Blackett review of the QT landscape. Simon gained his doctorate at the University of Oxford working on molecular materials for quantum information processing, and was later a research fellow in nanophysics at the University of Birmingham.
Anne-Claire Blet
Anne-Claire has extensive experience in designing and delivering international programmes across both the public and private sectors. As the Deputy Director joined in 2023, she oversees projects, portfolio and programme management; risk management; benefits, monitoring & evaluation; and governance and assurance activities. She is also a champion for people rewards, IP, and commercialisation.
Before NQCC, Anne-Claire was the Chief Operating Officer at Oxford Quantum Circuits, where she helped scale the business and build profitable partnerships with industry end-users and government. She led the response to the company’s Series A due diligence, and helped launch all novel hardware, software and cloud products. She managed IP, legal, compliance, communications, people and finance opportunities. Earlier in her career, Anne-Claire worked for the United Nations, developing and deploying the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and coordinating the negotiations of 192 member countries on climate change mitigation and climate finance. She also worked for CAC40 multinationals.
Anne-Claire is an Infrastructure and Projects Authority reviewer for DSIT, a mentor in the DSIT Programme Delivery Mentoring Scheme, and sponsor of the STFC WiSTEM (Women in STEM) interest group.
Jonathan Burnett
Jonathan has led large-scale R&D activities in quantum computation, quantum hardware, and quantum control architectures in the UK and Sweden. After completing his MSc in Physics at Royal Holloway, University of London, and his PhD on decoherence effects in superconducting circuits at RHUL and NPL, Jonathan’s career has spanned top-tier research institutions such as London Centre for Nanotechnology, UC; Wallenberg Centre for Quantum Technology at Chalmers University, Sweden, and NPL, where he worked to improve coherence times in superconducting qubits. Most recently, Jonathan played a pivotal role at Oxford Quantum Circuits, serving as Head of Quantum Hardware, Lead of Quantum Systems, and Director of Hardware Engineering.
