Speakers

Jacko served as an Army officer for 23 years across UN, NATO, UK MoD and Joint Headquarters. Since leaving in 2012, he has focussed commercially on executive level stakeholder management & refining customer service delivery models including being the National Operations Director for the complex recruiting programme in partnership with the MoD. Jacko was appointed as the Director of Defence Relationship Management (DRM) in 2020. DRM is an Arm’s Length Body of the UK MoD  responsible for delivering Defence’s Employer Engagement and Employer Support functions by building trusted partnerships with organisations across all sectors and sizes. These partnerships support the Armed Forces community, including Reservists, Service Leavers, Veterans, Cadet Force Adult Volunteers, the Cadet Movement and military families. The Armed Forces Covenant (AFC) and Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) are the cornerstones of this work. With more than 13,500 Covenant signatories, 60 percent of which hold Bronze, Silver or Gold ERS awards, the network continues to grow. By linking employers with Defence, DRM helps unlock talent, foster leadership and strengthen the national workforce. These partnerships enhance organisational resilience and contribute to the UK’s broader readiness and security. DRM ensures that support for Defence is embedded across society and recognised as a vital part of national life.