General ManagerJohn Harker MBE
John Harker MBE started at VIL in May 2023 to support with and focus on building the charitable side of the organisation, whilst supporting the operational needs of the training arm of VIL.
Before this he worked with several charities including My Life Legacy, Wigan Armed Forces HQ (Wigan Council), Manchester Academy of Gymnastics and was CEO of Wigan Youth Zone where he headed-up a team that provided support and recreation for young people in Wigan.
Prior to this, John was a Major in the Army with 33 years’ service of which all, but 5 years of this time was served in front line operational units. He joined as a Junior Leader in 1980 and quickly rose through the ranks becoming the youngest Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) in the Infantry before being commissioned as an officer in 2001 age 36.
As well as mainland UK he has served in Northern Ireland, Canada, Cyprus, Germany, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan. He was awarded the Joint Force Commanders Commendation in Bosnia 1996, in 2001 he received the Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service for his operational contributions during years of service in Northern Ireland and latterly was awarded the MBE in 2012.
John has worked with thousands of military personnel over his career and has been an Instructor at the Armies recruit training establishment and latterly in his career spent several years as a Senior Logistics Officer in a number of roles across the UK, Germany, Cyprus and Afghanistan. He also spent 2 years at the prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst training officers in Command and Leadership and his last post in the military involved working closely with and supporting injured soldiers and their families at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine.
John left the Forces specifically to be the CEO of Wigan Youth Zone (charity) where he spent over 4 years committed to providing an outstanding service and maintaining a vibrant, well managed, exciting and fun facility for young people in Wigan.
He is thrilled to be back in a role supporting the Armed Forces community, Veterans and injured soldiers and will continue to give the same level of drive, energy and commitment as he did throughout his military service.
Originally from Colne and a lifelong Burnley supporter, he is married to Sandra, also from Colne and their son Brett (28) serves in the Royal Army Medical Corp as an Operational Department Practitioner.