Dr Ing James Foden is a warranted engineer by profession with an extensive track record within R&D&I across the knowledge triangle, with particular expertise in manufacturing engineering, technology management and technology strategy.

His education includes a first degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Malta, an M.Phil. in Materials and an Engineering Doctorate in High Performance Applications in Aerospace & Related Technologies, both conducted with Rolls-Royce plc. and the University of Birmingham, UK.

James Foden has held various positions within the local and UK private sector across the energy generation, pharmaceutical and aviation industries, with the latter being the most predominant. Within the academic domain, James Foden has published number of articles and conference papers on advanced manufacturing, technology foresight, technology management and capability acquisition, whilst also having worked for academic institutions including the Malta College for Arts, Science and Technology, as well as the University of Malta.

Between 2013 and 2021, James Foden held a number of senior management roles at the Malta Council for Science and Technology. His last role was that of Senior Director, Strategy, Research and Technical Affairs. He was responsible for the entity’s four technical units that covered Policy, Strategy, Internationalisation, National Funding Programmes for R&I, local participation in the EU Framework Programme, as well as Space. Due to his remit, as well as having been the Malta lead delegate for Malta relations with the European Space Agency and a Council Member and Vice-President for Eurisy, he joined the Malta Space Task Force from its inception and continued to contribute until 2021.

James Foden now works at TWI, based in Cambridge, UK, as a Principal Innovation Project Leader within the Technology Innovation Management team. He advises SMEs and research organisations on innovation and research proposal concept development,
as part of the services that TWI provides to its TWI Innovation Network (TWIIN).

He continues to support the Malta Space Task Force in his personal capacity.