Professor Nalini Joshi AO

Chair of Applied Mathematics, the University of Sydney and
2025 NSW Scientist of the Year

presents

Mathematics for Quantum Era Security and Trust

When powerful quantum computers are operational, smartphones in our pockets will be replaced by quantum devices, cash will be replaced by quantum money, and new products to drive our vehicles, fertilise our crops and improve our health will be found in ways we cannot yet imagine.

This promise has resulted in companies and governments across the world significantly increasing their investments in quantum computing and artificial intelligence.

But meeting this demand presents diabolical challenges. A looming problem is that powerful quantum computers will be able to break widely used cryptographic protocols. The Australian Signals Directorate has recommended that the current protocols used in billions of digital transactions a day be removed and replaced by new ones by 2030. But the recommended algorithms are not fit-for-use in all settings and there is no guarantee that they will survive future attacks. To find astonishing new materials, we will need exponentially faster search algorithms, which are still in short supply on quantum computers.

Join 2025 NSW Scientist of the Year, Professor Nalini Joshi, as she discusses these challenges and explains how mathematics can provide solutions to overcome them.

About the Speaker

Payne-Scott Professor Nalini Joshi AO
Chair of Applied Mathematics, the University of Sydney

Professor Nalini Joshi AO is a world-leading mathematician whose pioneering work has transformed the field of integrable systems. She is internationally recognised for introducing geometric and asymptotic methods to study discrete and continuous nonlinear mathematical models. Her results have led to crucial information about singularity structure and to improved tests for the identification of critical models called integrable systems.

Nalini describes her research as developing methods to solve mathematical puzzles involving non-linear differential and difference equations, studied through a wide variety of lenses, including analysis, algebra, algebraic geometry, topology and asymptotic methods in limits.

Nalini has tackled traditional continuous systems, where her results have brought a more unified understanding. She has led the development of complex analytic techniques to study integrable discrete systems, with applications ranging from collisions of sub-atomic particles to the operation of the New York subway system.

Nalini is the first woman to hold the position of Chair of Applied Mathematics in the School of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Sydney. She is a past ARC Georgina Sweet Australian Laureate Fellow and past President of the Australian Mathematical Society (2008-10). She was the first Australian to hold the position of Vice-President of the International Mathematical Union from 2019 to 2022.

An ambassador for maths, women and minority groups, Nalini is inspiring our next generation of leaders and demonstrating the powerful applications that numbers can have in our complex world. Nalini generously gives her time to mentor other academics and students. She has mentored over 30 researchers in her career, sharing the power of maths and encouraging leadership skills and independence. She is also passionate about encouraging women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine, and played an integral part in establishing the Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) program and was its first co-chair.

Nalini was born and spent her childhood in Burma. After moving with her family to Australia in the 1970s, she attended Fort Street High School and gained her Bachelor of Science with honours in 1982 at the University of Sydney, and her PhD at Princeton University under the supervision of the pre-eminent mathematician, Professor Martin David Kruskal.

Nalini has 121 research papers and book publications and has attracted over $7 million in grant funding. She has received significant recognition and awards during her career, most recently being declared the 2025 Scientist of the Year at the Premier’s Prizes for Science & Engineering:

2025	Elected honorary member, London Mathematical Society
2024	Pollock Award and Lectureship, Royal Society of NSW
2021	Rothschild Distinguished Visiting Fellowship, Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Cambridge University, UK
2021	ANZIAM (Australia and New Zealand Industrial and Applied Mathematics) Medal for "Unparalleled contributions to applied mathematics in leadership, gender equity, and promotion of mathematics".
2020	The George Szekeres Medal, Australian Mathematical Society
2019	Bragg fellowship, Royal Institution of Australia
2019-22	Vice-president of the International Mathematical Union
2018	Eureka award, Outstanding Mentor of Young Researchers
2017	Payne-Scott Professorial Distinction
2016	The Australian Financial Review and Westpac 100 Women of Influence
2016	Officer of the Order of Australia for services to Mathematics
2016	Member, Science in Australia Gender Equity Expert Advisory Group
2015	The Australian Financial Review and Westpac 100 Women of Influence
2015	London Mathematical Society 150th Anniversary Hardy Fellowship
2014-16	Co-Chair, Science in Australia Gender Equity Initiative
2014	Member, the Prime Minister’s Commonwealth Science Council
2013-16	Executive group member, Decadal Plan for Mathematical Sciences
2013-14	Member, International Mathematical Union Working Group on Women in Mathematics
2012	Australian Research Council Georgina Sweet Australian Laureate Fellowship
2012-15	Member, Council of the Australian Academy of Science
2011-16	Chair, National Committee for Mathematical Sciences
2010-12	Board member, Australian Mathematics Trust
2010-12	Chair, International Mathematical Union/International Council for Industrial and Applied Mathematics Working Group on Journal Rankings
2008-10	President, the Australian Mathematical Society
2008	Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science (FAA)
2008	Chair, Australian Council of Heads of Mathematical Sciences
1997	Australian Research Council Senior Research Fellowship
1982	Centenary prize of the Australian Association of University Women
1982	University Medal in Applied Mathematics, University of Sydney

Breakfast Seminars

The Science & Research Breakfast Seminar Series is held at the Strangers’ Function Room at Parliament of NSW, Sydney.

Where: Parliament of NSW. Entry is via Macquarie Street, Sydney. Guests are required to undergo routine security screening.

Time: Breakfast, tea and coffee are served from 7.30am.

The seminar starts at 8am sharp and concludes by 9am. Tea and coffee is also available afterwards.

RSVP: By 5pm on Monday 2 March 2026

IMPORTANT BOOKING INFORMATION
When making multiple bookings, please include the names of all who are attending, to ensure they have a nametag on the day.

For further information or for any accessibility requests email events.rsvp@chiefscientist.nsw.gov.au or call (02) 9228 3347

Contact the host of Mathematics for Quantum Era Security and Trust