Terrance Popowich
Chief Executive Officer
Terry Popowich is the Chief Executive Officer of Qorsa Corp, headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario. With over 35 years of leadership across advanced technology, capital markets, and strategic growth, he drives Qorsa’s mission to deliver quantum-safe security and AI-powered intelligence for governments and critical infrastructure.
Terry has led both emerging growth companies and major ventures, including co-founding Teranet Inc. — a global leader in real estate data systems, later acquired by OMERS — and Workflow Automation Corporation, acquired by BEA Systems. He held senior advisory roles in the Canadian federal government, including Executive Assistant to the Parliamentary Secretary of Energy, Mines and Resources and Atomic Energy of Canada, and Chief of Staff to the Minister of Financial Institutions and the Minister of National Revenue.
Terry combines private and public sector insight with a strong focus on innovation, operational excellence, and long-term value creation. Under his leadership, Qorsa is positioned as a trusted partner to forward-thinking governments, enterprises, and institutions seeking quantum-safe, AI-powered security solutions.
Dr. Bruce W. Watson
President, Qorsa Labs
Bruce Watson leads frontier research in post-quantum cryptography, AI, and cybersecurity at Qorsa Labs, the company’s applied research division in partnership with the University of Waterloo. A dual PhD and globally recognised expert, Bruce has held leadership roles across government, industry, and academia — including with NATO, ASML, Microsoft, Cisco, and Canada’s national security sector.
Bruce holds two PhDs — in Computing Science and Engineering (Eindhoven University of Technology) and Computer Science (University of Pretoria) — and a Combinatorics and Optimisation degree from the University of Waterloo. He has held full professorships across Europe, Canada, and Africa, founded AI for Computational Thinking at South Africa’s Centre for AI Research, and serves as one of only a few Global Commissioners for Responsible AI in the Military Domain.
Bruce holds two PhDs — in Computing Science & Engineering (Eindhoven University) and Computer Science (University of Pretoria) — and a Combinatorics & Optimization/CS degree from the University of Waterloo.
With deep roots in algorithmics, silicon design, AI, and correctness-by-construction, Bruce advances Qorsa’s mission to build quantum-safe, intelligent systems with global impact. He is a Subject Matter Expert to the UN’s AI Advisory Body and Canada’s National Security Centre of Excellence (NSCOE).
With deep roots in algorithmics, silicon design, AI and correctness-by-construction, Bruce advances Qorsa’s mission to build secure, intelligent systems with global impact.
Jacob Sakhnini
Chief Technology Officer
Jacob Sakhnini leads the development of Qorsa’s integrated platform spanning AI-powered threat intelligence, cryptographic agility, and hardware-rooted security. With a Master’s degree in Engineering Systems and Computing, specialising in Artificial Intelligence, from the University of Guelph, Jacob blends academic rigour with practical engineering.
He is a published researcher in machine learning and cybersecurity, with widely cited work in critical infrastructure protection and AI-powered threat detection. His research has earned recognition in leading engineering journals and contributed to multiple books in the cybersecurity field.
Bruce holds two PhDs — in Computing Science & Engineering (Eindhoven University) and Computer Science (University of Pretoria) — and a Combinatorics & Optimization/CS degree from the University of Waterloo.
Prior to Qorsa, Jacob architected advanced machine learning pipelines and natural language processing systems at the CivicAtlas group, delivering scalable intelligent solutions for complex data environments. With a unique blend of research excellence and practical engineering skill, Jacob drives the technology strategy as Qorsa’s CTO, ensuring its solutions remain on the frontier of secure, intelligent system development.
With deep roots in algorithmics, silicon design, AI and correctness-by-construction, Bruce advances Qorsa’s mission to build secure, intelligent systems with global impact.
Liam Watson
Chief Quantum Officer
Liam Watson drives Qorsa’s vision at the frontier of quantum-safe security, leading the development of cryptographically agile systems built to withstand next-generation cyber threats. Liam’s work began at the University of Waterloo’s renowned Computer Systems Group, where he engineered distributed architectures incorporating NIST-approved post-quantum cryptography.
His expertise bridges AI, formal methods, and cybersecurity innovation — from machine-learning-driven threat modelling to compliance systems recognised by NATO and IIAKM. As former CTO of Quantum Secure Solutions, Liam designed national-scale quantum-resistant frameworks and continues to shape critical infrastructure protection through his work with Canada’s National Security Centre of Excellence (NSCOE).
Bruce holds two PhDs — in Computing Science & Engineering (Eindhoven University) and Computer Science (University of Pretoria) — and a Combinatorics & Optimization/CS degree from the University of Waterloo.
A published researcher and with a background in Computer Science specialising in AI at the University of Waterloo, Liam brings technical depth and global insight to Qorsa’s mission: delivering quantum-safe, intelligence-driven solutions for governments, enterprises, and critical infrastructure worldwide. He has advised global organisations including the United Nations and authored peer-reviewed research spanning quantum cryptography, AI ethics, and secure systems.
With deep roots in algorithmics, silicon design, AI and correctness-by-construction, Bruce advances Qorsa’s mission to build secure, intelligent systems with global impact.
Peter Hall
Chief Operating Officer
Peter Hall is a seasoned technologist with decades of innovation in software systems, enterprise architecture, and global project delivery. He began his career at British Rail, pioneering early microcomputer-based train control systems, and later led the development of PROMPT — a project management framework adopted as the UK government standard for IT system development.
As founder of Workflow Automation Corporation, Peter launched jFlow, the world’s first Java-based workflow engine, licensed by enterprise leaders such as Computer Associates. The company was acquired by BEA Systems in 2000, where Peter led product strategy for the WebLogic platform — now a core component of Oracle’s enterprise technology stack.
Bruce holds two PhDs — in Computing Science & Engineering (Eindhoven University) and Computer Science (University of Pretoria) — and a Combinatorics & Optimization/CS degree from the University of Waterloo.
Peter has directed large-scale systems integration projects across Europe, North America, Africa, and Australia. As COO at Qorsa, he brings operational leadership and technical vision to ensure the company’s quantum-safe security solutions deliver at enterprise scale.
With deep roots in algorithmics, silicon design, AI and correctness-by-construction, Bruce advances Qorsa’s mission to build secure, intelligent systems with global impact.
Nanette Saes
Vice President of Communications
Nanette Saes is an international communications strategist and sworn translator with over two decades of experience at the intersection of language, technology, and global business. With deep expertise in marketing communications, localisation, and collaborative knowledge systems, she has led initiatives for clients including Boston Consulting Group, Mitsubishi Motors, and Nestlé.
Her academic work as a research fellow and lecturer at Stellenbosch University has focused on AI-driven knowledge dynamics and cybersecurity in decision-making, earning international recognition. She has also led the organisation of prominent global conferences in cybersecurity and information science.
Bruce holds two PhDs — in Computing Science & Engineering (Eindhoven University) and Computer Science (University of Pretoria) — and a Combinatorics & Optimization/CS degree from the University of Waterloo.
At Qorsa, Nanette leads a communications strategy defined by clarity, trust, and technological credibility — amplifying the company’s voice at the frontier of quantum-safe security and AI-powered intelligence. She brings multilingual fluency and cross-cultural expertise to Qorsa’s global engagement across North America, Europe, and Asia.
With deep roots in algorithmics, silicon design, AI and correctness-by-construction, Bruce advances Qorsa’s mission to build secure, intelligent systems with global impact.
Dr. Donald Cowan
Chairman
Dr. Donald Cowan is one of Canada’s most influential figures in computer science and technology innovation. A Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of Waterloo, Dr. Cowan was the founding Chair of its world-renowned David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science and leads the Computer Systems Group.
Over his career, Dr. Cowan has supervised more than 130 graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, and authored over 350 publications, 17 books, and 9 book chapters. He co-founded two successful Waterloo technology companies — WATCOM (acquired by SAP) and LivePage (acquired by Oracle).
Bruce holds two PhDs — in Computing Science & Engineering (Eindhoven University) and Computer Science (University of Pretoria) — and a Combinatorics & Optimization/CS degree from the University of Waterloo.
His contributions have been recognised with numerous awards, including the J.W. Graham Medal, the CS-Can/Info-Can Lifetime Achievement Award, an honorary DSc from the University of Guelph, ACM Distinguished Scientist, Brazil’s Grand Cross of Scientific Merit, and the City of Waterloo Award. As Chairman of the Board, Dr. Cowan provides strategic oversight and thought leadership as Qorsa advances quantum-safe, AI-powered security solutions.
With deep roots in algorithmics, silicon design, AI and correctness-by-construction, Bruce advances Qorsa’s mission to build secure, intelligent systems with global impact.
