Prof. Paul Davies (Arizona State University, USA)
Professor Paul Davies is a theoretical physicist, cosmologist, astrobiologist and best-selling author. His research has been mostly in quantum gravity, with applications to the early universe and black holes, and on the nature of time. He is Regents’ Professor of Physics and Director of the Beyond Center for Fundamental Concepts in Science at Arizona State University. His most recent is Quantum 2.0 is on foundational questions in quantum mechanics and quantum information theory. Among his many awards, he received the Templeton Prize in 1995, the Faraday Prize from The Royal Society, and is a Member of the Order of Australia.
Prof. Thibault Damour (IHES, France)
Professor Thibault Damour is one of the world’s leading theoretical physicists and Emeritus Professor at the Institut des Hautes Études Scientifiques (IHÉS), France. His research has made foundational contributions to gravitation, general relativity, cosmology, black hole physics, gravitational waves, and the interface between gravity and quantum theory. He has authored more than 300 scientific publications and received numerous international distinctions, including the Einstein Medal, the Gruber Cosmology Prize, the Galileo Galilei medal, and the Special Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics for the detection of gravitational waves. He is an Officier de l'Ordre National de la Légion d'Honneur, France.
Peter Rossdeutscher, AM
Peter Rossdeuscher is an accomplished executive with over 2 decades of expertise in Australia’s innovation ecosystem. He is the Chair of Quantum Australia and Chair of Industry Innovation and Science Australia. He is a member of the Order of Australia. Peter is an Adjunct Professor at UWA and Sydney University.
Prof. Yanbei Chen (Caltech, USA)
Prof. Yanbei Chen is a prominent theoretical physicist. His research primarily centres on gravitational wave physics, quantum optics, macro-quantum mechanics, and testing the limits of Einstein's general theory of relativity. He is widely recognised for his theoretical contributions to the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO).
Prof. Sanjeev Dhurandhar (IUCAA, Pune, India)
Prof. Sanjeev Dhurandhar is an Emeritus Professor at the Inter-University Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) in Pune, India. He is one of the pioneers of Gravitational Wave (GW) astronomy in India and has worked extensively on applying advanced mathematical and statistical techniques in developing algorithms for GW searches and detector characterization since the late 1980s. His contributions include introduction of a differential geometric approach to GW data analysis, and the stationary phase approximation to compute the Fourier transform of the chirp.
Prof. Michael Tobar (University of Western Australia)
Professor Michael Tobar is the Director of the Quantum Technologies and Dark Matter Research Lab (QDM Lab) at UWA, which is part the nationwide Australian Research Council Centres of Excellence; Engineered Quantum Systems and Dark Matter Particle Physics. His broad research interests encompass the disciplines of frequency metrology, precision and quantum measurements, low temperature, condensed matter, and quantum physics. Over his career he has developed a variety of measurement tools, allowing investigations in many areas of Physics and Engineering, leading to many prestigious awards. In particular, he has developed technologies to undertake precise tests of fundamental physics and has also adapted such technology to the commercial sector.
Prof. David Blair (University of Western Australia)
Prof. David Blair is a gravitational wave physicist who has spent more than 4 decades developing methods for the detection of gravitational waves. He is renowned for pioneering a number of precision measurement techniques used for ultra-sensitive displacement measurements, exceptionally low noise clocks and oscillators, and gravitational wave research. Among his many awards, he was the recipient of the WA Scientist of the Year award in 2007, the Premier Science Award in 2022, and the Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2026.
A/Prof. Haixing Miao (Tsinghua University, China)
Dr. Haixing Miao is a prominent physicist and Associate Professor at Tsinghua University, specializing in quantum measurement theory, optomechanics, and gravitational-wave detection. He is widely recognized for his theoretical contributions to enhancing the sensitivity of laser interferometers, such as those used by the LIGO.
Professor Ik Siong Heng (Glasgow University, UK)
Professor Ik Siong Heng is He is a leading expert in gravitational-wave astronomy, data analysis, and numerical modelling. He is the Principal Investigator for the Gravitational Wave Universe Tomorrow (GrEAT) Network. He is a fellow of the Royal Society.
Prof. Zebing Zhou (Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), China)
Zebing Zhou is Head of National Gravitation Laboratory at HUST, one of the most critical units in space-based gravitational wave. He is deeply involved in major Chinese space and gravitational wave projects like TianQin.