“A lot of what I did in high school was done out of spite.”

Louise Turner is a Quantum Security Advisor for the Quantum Algorithms Institute

Written by Jordan Fish

Full disclosure: Louise and I have a history. From carpooling to rec sports every Friday to being former coworkers at the Quantum Algorithms Institute, where we both worked on the Professional Development team. I was on the coordination side; she was the subject matter expert. 

Our first program together was the Introduction to Post-Quantum Cybersecurity. Louise videoed in from Kingston to a Victoria boardroom, appearing on a screen so large she could easily pass for our overlord. Meanwhile, I was eyeing the overflowing tin trays of lasagna I had ordered, there was enough to feed the attendees ten times over - to my chagrin of overspending on the corporate credit card. We messaged each other on Teams throughout the presentation, offering moral support as the session unfolded. 

Louise is a recent cybersecurity graduate from Queen’s university who is a force in the quantum space. She is currently working as a Quantum Security Advisor for the Quantum Algorithms Institute where she is integrated into the BC Investment Management Corporation's security team. It’s fortunate she’s so likable because her resume alone is intimidating. Alongside her advisor role, she was also team captain for her CyberTitans team in high school (an 8-hour long cyber security competition).

“We became two-time national finalists. The fact that we were the best non-male team got us into the spotlight.”

Despite my initial thoughts that she is a prodigy, Louise clarifies:

“I just liked games in high school and spent a whole lot of time in the computer lab during lunch. I ended up taking a computer program. It was self guided learning, and I hated it at first.”

Over time, thanks to the persistent support of her then teacher (now mentor) Tim King, she continued. Through that process, she learned not only the fundamentals of computer science, but also how to be an independent learner. 

“Even knowing how to effectively Google something is such an important skill.”

By age 17, she had earned her Cisco IT certification (the gold standard for IT training) and was teaching 9th graders computer science. Along the way, she gained experience as an educator and discovered a passion for technology.

“A lot of what I did in high school was done out of spite. Taking risks was a big part of that, and nothing bad can come from learning something. Especially, when there’s this assumption that tech will break instantly when you mess with it.”

A healthy fire in her belly led to her taking Tim’s advice to apply for Canada’s largest STEM scholarship: the Schulich Leader Scholarship, which she was awarded in 2021.

“It goes out to 100 students each year, who showcase an entrepreneurial mind in STEM.” 

Diving into IT out of spite is, arguably, a cornerstone of the entrepreneurial spirit. 

Before she knew it, Louise was heading to Ghana, as the youngest presenter at the 2023 Global Conference on Cyber Capacity Building. There, she and Tim presented their paper Cyber Security in the Age of Quantum Advantage. 

“I’m really into national security, and I look up to the women in the IT space who are older than me. Especially since, 20 years ago, it was so hard to get into the field. That’s where it trickles over to seniors, cause both groups are discouraged.”

This perspective shapes her role on our Advisory Committee, where she actively contributes to program development.

“For seniors, the main thing they should learn is to be aware of social engineering, aka scams. You should be more scared of being scammed rather than getting hacked. The biggest tactic they have is making you act fast, so the number one thing you can do is pause before clicking. Think about who you can call to verify what’s really going on.”

This, along with many other tips, are central to our programs. We aim to counter the tactics of the bad actors targeting older adults, while also empowering them to safely enjoy the conveniences and fun digital devices offer. 

“It’s okay to try new things and not be good at them, despite how scary it may seem.” 

If anything, taking that risk may start a ripple effect, encouraging others to take a step toward the scary, like she did. 

“There was a genuine leap of women in CyberTitan after our team participated in CyberTitan. I could see myself in the attendees.”

Louise also highlights the other key ingredient, along spite, that led her on her path:

“I wouldn't have done anything without the push by Tim. Especially being at a rural high school - I was 1 of 3 girls in a tech course initially. When girls aren’t really expected to do anything in tech, it can be easy for teachers to ignore them.”

Now she continues to push herself beyond tech, whether self teaching herself to embroider or exploring music both online and offline. And she is now pushing the boundaries to make the tech space less gate-kept for older adults and more spiteful in the best possible way.