Charlie Markham

Technical Specialist, Emerging Tech & Research

Financial Conduct Authority

Charlie is a Technical Specialist in the Emerging Technology & Research team at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the UK’s conduct regulator for financial services. He leads the FCA’s research into the applications of quantum technologies in financial services, exploring both the opportunities and regulatory challenges that quantum computing, communications, and security present.

Charlie co-authored an award-winning white paper on quantum security for the financial sector with the World Economic Forum and has been instrumental in shaping the FCA’s regulatory approach to emerging quantum risks. He also led the joint research initiative between the FCA, the UK Quantum Software Lab, and National Quantum Computing Centre to map the evolving landscape of quantum applications in financial services, working closely with industry, academia, and regulators.

Charlie's work focuses on bridging technical innovation and regulatory insight, helping to ensure the safe, trustworthy adoption of quantum technologies in financial markets.

Speaking at

12:00–1:30pmWed 24 JunGFTN InsightsRoundtable Room 3, Ground FloorOpenModerator
Roadmap for AI and Quantum

Building Regulatory Maturity: From Quantum Security to Quantum Advantage

GFTN InsightsRoundtable Room 3, Ground FloorOpenModerator
About this session

To date, regulatory and industry engagement on quantum computing has largely focused on quantum security, with meaningful progress made in raising awareness, developing transition plans, and beginning the migration to post-quantum cryptography.

This roundtable reflects on that momentum and asks a forward-looking question:

What can the quantum security journey teach us about the regulator's role in enabling innovation and quantum applications in financial services?

Starting with the lens of GFIN’s Project Otto – Quantum Maturity for Regulators, this discussion will bring together regulators and industry to:
- Reflect on what has worked well in progressing quantum security from awareness to early implementation
- Discuss the regulatory tools, approaches, and mechanisms that have supported firm engagement and investment
- Explore how these lessons can be applied to support firms in experimenting with, investing in, and ultimately deploying quantum-enabled use cases
- Consider how regulators can balance risk mitigation with enabling growth, ensuring markets are prepared for both the challenges and opportunities quantum technologies present

By connecting lessons and experiences from quantum security to emerging quantum advantage, this roundtable aims to support more coordinated, proactive, and innovation-oriented regulatory approaches to quantum computing in financial services.
3:00–3:35pmWed 24 JunForum StageKongresssaal, Level 1Open
Roadmap for AI and Quantum

The Quantum Horizon: Applications, Readiness and What Finance Must Do Next

Forum StageKongresssaal, Level 1Open
About this session

Quantum computing is no longer a distant theoretical promise - leading institutions are already running portfolio optimisation, derivatives pricing, and compliance simulations that classical computers cannot match for speed or accuracy. But readiness across the industry remains deeply uneven, the talent gap is acute, and the post-quantum cryptography migration clock is ticking loudly. This session brings together pioneers to map where quantum technology genuinely stands in financial services - and what it will take to move from early advantage to industry-wide transformation.

Featured speakers

Hosted by

Charlie Markham

Speaking at

Building Regulatory Maturity: From Quantum Security to Quantum Advantage

The Quantum Horizon: Applications, Readiness and What Finance Must Do Next