Executive Director – UKQuantum

Jonathan Legh-Smith MBE

Executive Director, UKQuantum

Jonathan Legh-Smith is Executive Director for UKQuantum, the association for the UK’s quantum industry. Jonathan is responsible for the strategic direction of the association and representing the interests of UKQuantum members nationally and internationally. Jonathan is also a member of the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme Strategic Advisory Board, the National Quantum Computing Centre Technical Advisory Group and NPL’s Quantum Metrology Institute Advisory Board.
Jonathan has extensive experience as an R&D and Innovation Executive, covering policy, strategy and programme management. Previously, Jonathan was Principal, Scientific Affairs for BT and directed BT’s Strategic Research programme for over 10 years including BT’s academic and industrial research partnerships; he was also BT’s Head of Standards. He was the UK Telecoms Expert for London’s successful 2012 Olympics bid.
Jonathan established BT’s school engagement programme in the East of England and co-created the national Barefoot Computing initiative in partnership with the BCS and Department for Education. He is a Corporation Member for Suffolk New College and Trustee for Asset Education primary academy trust.
Jonathan regularly chairs panels for UKRI programmes such as UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship and EPSRC Prosperity Partnerships. He has previously served on the EPSRC Strategic Advisory Network and the EPSRC Science, Engineering & Technology Board.
Jonathan was awarded an MBE for services to science & technology in 2024.

Jonathan Legh-Smith MBE

Jonathan regularly chairs panels for UKRI programmes such as UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship and EPSRC Prosperity Partnerships. He has previously served on the EPSRC Strategic Advisory Network and the EPSRC Science, Engineering & Technology Board.

Jonathan was awarded an MBE for services to science & technology in 2024.