Building Australia's quantum future: Three shifts to strengthen women's participation
What better time than International Women's Day to assess where women's voices are sorely needed?
Nowhere are these voices more important, in my opinion, than in conversations about the technologies that will define Australia's economic and strategic position over the next two decades.
With the current focus on artificial intelligence, less visible technologies may not be triggering the same level of attention right now. While artificial intelligence dominates headlines, quantum technologies are quietly advancing and their potential to reshape industries, infrastructure, and national capability may well be even more profound.
Australia has invested in quantum research for over 20 years and remains internationally recognised for its research strength across quantum sensing, quantum communications, and quantum computing. We are now in the early stages of a new phase of technological advancement, where quantum effects are not only observed and measured, but actively stabilised and controlled in laboratory and early commercial environments.
Many researchers describe this period as the second quantum revolution. It is defined by the active manipulation of quantum systems, which are beginning to be deployed across many industries and critical infrastructure systems that shape society as we know it, often alongside artificial intelligence and classical computing.
Secure communications, advanced simulation, navigation, chemicals and materials development, and hybrid computing architectures will influence how industries optimise operations, how infrastructure is secured, and how competitive advantage is built.
Yet, women remain significantly underrepresented across quantum physics, engineering, startup founding, venture capital, standards development, and technical policy.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, women account for just 15 percent of people employed in engineering occupations and 28 percent of those in information technology roles. In advanced technology sectors, the talent pool is already constrained, narrowing it further weakens industry formation.
If this imbalance persists in quantum, one of the most strategically important technology transitions of this century risks being shaped by a limited demographic cohort, with significant consequences for capital allocation, governance quality, and long-term competitiveness.
If Australia expects quantum to deliver productivity uplift, sovereign capability, and public trust, it must be built with the full breadth of available talent.
Here are three practical shifts that would materially strengthen women's participation in quantum and, in turn, the long term strength of the sector itself.
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Increase the visibility of women across the quantum ecosystem
Quantum is still widely perceived as a discipline dominated by a narrow demographic profile.
That perception is reinforced when women and other people of diverse backgrounds are less frequently quoted in media coverage, less frequently invited to keynote industry events, and less frequently positioned as technical authorities.
From our work with Quantum Australia's growing community of practice - which spans researchers, startups, investors, industry partners and government - women are contributing across research laboratories, commercial teams, and policy forums. Public visibility does not yet reflect that contribution.
But even if there are fewer women in the field, this only strengthens the argument for uplifting their voices further to encourage greater participation.
In emerging industries, influence forms early. The experts who are cited and platformed become the experts trusted by investors, policymakers, and boards. That trust shapes capital allocation, standards development, and regulatory direction.
Broadening who is publicly recognised as a quantum authority will influence who shapes the sector as it matures. That matters.
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Expand pathways beyond physics alone
Quantum company founders are frequently PhD-trained physicists, and that technical depth is indispensable. Yet translating research strength into a scaled industry demands capabilities that extend well beyond scientific excellence.
Industry growth requires product leaders, engineers, software architects, cybersecurity specialists, commercial operators, board directors, and investors who understand long development timelines. If women are underrepresented in these adjacent roles, the sector constrains its own talent base at precisely the moment it needs to expand.
Quantum will increasingly function as an enabling layer beneath applications in optimisation, sensing, and simulation. As hybrid systems combining classical computing, quantum capability, and artificial intelligence expand, organisations will need leaders who can translate deep science into enterprise adoption.
Women must be present in those translation roles if the sector is to scale effectively.
Expanding entry points into governance, venture investment, product management, and industry engagement increases the available talent pool and strengthens the commercial resilience of the industry.
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Embed inclusion while the industry architecture is still forming
Quantum is still shaping its industrial architecture. Standards, supply chains, investment norms, and governance frameworks are being established now.
Australia has experienced this challenge before. In previous technology waves, strong research capability did not always translate into sustained domestic industry advantage. Decisions about who was funded, who led, and who influenced standards had long-term consequences.
Quantum presents a narrow window to build differently.
Ensuring women are present in startup leadership teams, investment committees, advisory boards, and standards bodies will influence how risk is assessed, how infrastructure is prioritised, and how national capability is structured.
Industry formation is path dependent, and early participation patterns tend to persist.
Assessing the representation women hold within quantum is ultimately about assessing the influence they will have in shaping the industries and infrastructure of the future
That is no small matter. And it must be done today.