Photonic Inc. Names Orlagh Neary Chief Marketing Officer and Briony Shipman Vice President of Global Government Affairs
Former Microsoft Quantum leader and Senior UK Civil Servant join to scale commercialization following the company’s $200M USD raise
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 07, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Photonic Inc., a global leader in distributed quantum computing, today announced the appointments of Orlagh Neary as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), and Briony Shipman as Vice President, Global Government Affairs.
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Français:
L’ancienne dirigeante de Microsoft Quantum et une ancienne haute fonctionnaire britannique rejoignent l’entreprise pour accélérer sa commercialisation, à la suite d’une levée de fonds de 200 millions de dollars américains.
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The strategic appointments of Neary and Shipman follow the final close of Photonic’s investment round in May 2026 of over $200M USD ($275M CAD) strengthening the company’s commercial and policy depth as it accelerates commercialization of distributed quantum computing.
“Photonic was founded on the belief that quantum computing can have global meaning and global impact. Our approach gives us the technical foundation to scale, and we know that companies who create enduring value are the ones that build the market alongside the technology. Orlagh and Briony bring the commercial, policy, and ecosystem expertise to help translate Photonic’s innovation into the partnerships, trust, and outcomes that will define quantum’s next chapter,” said Don Mattrick, CEO, Photonic Inc.
Neary joins Photonic Inc. from Microsoft, where she spent over two decades building and scaling global thought leadership and go-to-market functions for complex emerging technologies, from enterprise AI and cloud to quantum computing. Most recently she served as General Manager of Microsoft Quantum and AI Ecosystem Engagement. She is also the founder of The ORB Network Foundation, a professional community dedicated to advancing women in business and leadership.
"For quantum to deliver on its potential, the technology and the ecosystem need to advance together. Having worked alongside Photonic as a Microsoft partner, I saw firsthand that this team is pioneering the architecture that gets quantum to the scale where it becomes genuinely useful. We are now doubling down on ecosystem engagement, elevating what sets Photonic apart, and working alongside partners to help shape how quantum technologies deliver meaningful, real-world impact," said Orlagh Neary, CMO, Photonic Inc.
Shipman joins Photonic Inc. most recently from Lloyds Banking Group where she was head of Cyber and Physical Defence, Data Security and Supply Chain. Prior to that, Briony spent 14 years in the intelligence community working for Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ). Starting as an Arabic linguist, she held a range of operational, policy and technical leadership roles, working extensively with the UK's allies in the Five Eyes, including a 3.5 year posting as Head of Liaison to Canada.
“My experience building relationships with governments and working within complex policy environments around the world is a perfect fit for Photonic’s global ambitions. This company understands that public-private collaboration is fundamental to how quantum computing will be commercialized and scaled. Photonic’s position in the global quantum ecosystem provides exciting opportunities for partnerships and growth,” added Briony Shipman, VP, Global Government Affairs, Photonic Inc.
In late 2025, Photonic Inc. announced it had advanced to Stage B of DARPA’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative, having successfully met Stage A requirements with its unique qubit modality and architecture. Photonic Inc. has also been selected for the Canadian Quantum Champions Program (Phase 1), a new Government of Canada initiative aimed at accelerating the development of fault-tolerant quantum computing.
About Photonic Inc.
Photonic Inc. is a leading quantum technology company developing commercial-scale quantum computers and quantum networks to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges in materials science, drug discovery, climate change, and security. The company’s approach unlocks performance at scale through unmatched distributed quantum computing capabilities. Photonic’s high-connectivity Entanglement First™ architecture leverages a unique qubit modality, optically-linked silicon spin qubits, to enable powerful computation, efficient error correction, and seamless integration with existing data center and telecom environments. Headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, with operations in the United States and United Kingdom, Photonic’s team of 160+ experts is advancing quantum technologies alongside leading investors, partners, and customers worldwide. Learn more at photonic.com.
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Media Contacts:
Laurie Davis
+1 804 337 2569
Laurie_Davis@interprosepr.com
Contact Info
Vivian Kelly, Interprose for Photonic Inc.
viviankelly@interprosepr.com
+1 703-509-5412
Attachments
Source: Photonic Inc.
Orlagh Neary, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), Photonic Inc.
Source: Photonic Inc.
Briony Shipman, Vice President, Global Government Affairs, Photonic Inc.
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