The trustees of The Not Forgotten are delighted to announce the appointment of Colonel (Retd) Richard Walker OBE as Chief Executive in succession to Brigadier (Retd) James Stopford CBE. Richard will assume the appointment on 5th September 2022.

Richard joins The Not Forgotten from the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) where he is currently Head of Engineering Services. He joined AWE in 2019 following a career in the Army. After serving a Gap Year Commission with the Gurkhas in Hong Kong, he graduated from Sheffield Hallam University in 1994 and Commissioned into the Royal Engineers from RMA Sandhurst. Following service in Airborne Commando and Gurkha units, he later instructed at RMA Sandhurst and commanded The Queen’s Gurkha Engineers Regiment.  During his Army career he served on operations globally, including multiple tours of Afghanistan.  His final appointment was Head of British Army International Interoperablilty Programme. He is currently Chairman of The Queen’s Gurkha Engineers Association.

Richard is married with two teenage children and lives in Surrey. His interests are both challenging and practical: telemark skiing, kayaking, surfing, cycling and motorsport.

We very much look forward to welcoming Richard to The Not Forgotten.

David Cowley, Chairman.

A note from Richard

I am delighted and honoured to be selected for the role of Chief Executive of The Not Forgotten. 

I can think of very few roles where there is such emphasis on people and with such a meaningful purpose.  

Roles centred on people, purpose and connecting the two are what makes me tick and I hope to contribute meaningfully to the team and to our cause. I am also very keen to ensure we continue to play our part in the broader Service and Veteran community. 

I am a passionate and active integrator, networker and connector and cannot wait to ensure that I and we continue to deliver the very best for our beneficiaries and our benefactors. I also look forward to working alongside you all to shape The Not Forgotten as we look to the future, so as to ensure relevance and a sustained connection with those who need us most. 

Finally I love being amongst personnel united by a common cause and who are driven by Service; I believe I have found this within TNF and I am bursting with excitement to join you all. 

I look forward to serving and playing my part to deliver for our stakeholders of today, while consolidating and defining our approach for tomorrow. 

Colonel (Retd) Richard Walker OBE