Joshua Western is the CEO and Co-Founder of Space Forge, a British aerospace company pioneering the world's first fully reusable orbital manufacturing platform to produce next-generation semiconductors and super materials in microgravity.

Joshua studied Politics at the University of Hull, then broke into the space industry after sending hundreds of cold applications, going on to work at Thales Alenia Space and the UK Space Agency where he helped shape the UK's National Space Innovation Programme.

Joshua co-founded Space Forge in 2018 alongside engineer Andrew Bacon after recognising that outsourcing complex manufacturing to space could deliver transformative climate benefits, with Space Forge's process preventing up to 80 tonnes of CO2 for every 1kg it produces.

Prior to Space Forge, Joshua served as an Innovation Fellow at Thales Alenia Space and led sustainability and green space initiatives at the UK Space Agency, also serving as an Advisor at Type One Ventures and a Member of the Greentech Alliance.

Space Forge has raised over $40M including a record-breaking Series A backed by NATO Innovation Fund and World Fund, secured partnerships with Sierra Space and Northrop Grumman, and is preparing to launch its ForgeStar-1 in-orbit demonstration mission.