Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner

Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner The Commissioner’s role is to advocate for fairness, access to services, and recognition for all veterans, regardless of service background.

The NI Veterans Commissioner's Office was established to provide a voice for veterans living in Northern Ireland to ensure fairness and safe access to services, working alongside the Veterans Welfare Service NI. The Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner’s Office (NIVCO) was established in 2020 as part of the New Decade, New Approach agreement, to ensure veterans living in Northern Ireland are pro

perly represented, understood, and supported. As of January 2025, the current Veterans Commissioner is David Johnstone, a former Royal Irish officer with 25 years of service, including operational deployment on Op TELIC. The office works in partnership with government, veteran organisations, and the wider community to help achieve the best outcomes for those who have served. We welcome comments and constructive, respectful dialogue on our page. However, we reserve the right to remove any content considered abusive, offensive, obscene, threatening or otherwise inappropriate. Accounts posting such content, including associated accounts, may also be blocked.

Turning Research into Action 📊Last week, Rachael Harger represented the Office of the Northern Ireland Veterans Commissi...
14/09/2026

Turning Research into Action 📊

Last week, Rachael Harger represented the Office of the Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner at the Royal British Legion Research to Action conference in London.

The event highlighted the importance of turning robust research into evidence based decision making that better reflects the needs and demographics of our veteran community.

Strengthening the evidence available on veterans in Northern Ireland is vital to informing future policy, shaping effective services and ensuring support is directed where it is most needed.

The Office will continue to support opportunities that help turn research into action and evidence into better outcomes for veterans and their families.

14/09/2026

Thrown In At The Deep End

Landing in Iraq was one thing. Valerie was then given a completely new role, working directly with senior military figures, government officials and even celebrities visiting the troops.

As a Reserve officer working alongside regulars, she also had to prove she could keep up, and she quickly learned from every mistake.

Her full episode goes live tomorrow:

https://nivco.podbean.com/

11/09/2026

She Almost Didn't Go

Valerie, thought she’d missed out on mobilisation.

Then a failed medical changed everything. Within weeks, she was called up and found herself heading to Iraq for six and a half months, ultimately spending a year away from her civilian career.

Her full episode is released next Tuesday. Listen to it here when it goes live:

https://nivco.podbean.com/

10/09/2026

Balance Is Everything

Balancing a Reserve Army career with a corporate job isn’t always easy, but Valerie Wilson believes the two can enhance each other.

With the right balance, the skills and experience gained from both can help you succeed in both careers.

Valerie’s full episode is released next Tuesday.

https://nivco.podbean.com/

The Veterans Commissioner, David Johnstone, was honoured to attend a memorial service last evening to mark the 55th Anni...
10/09/2026

The Veterans Commissioner, David Johnstone, was honoured to attend a memorial service last evening to mark the 55th Anniversary of the death of Captain David Stewardson, aged 29, murdered by terrorists on the 9th September 1971.

Captain Stewardson, a bomb disposal officer and member of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, he had only been in Northern Ireland for 10 days. As Capt. Stewardson tried to cut into the package, the IRA bomb exploded, just outside Castlerobin Orange hall.

With grateful thanks to those who organised the poignant service and to everyone from the local community who turned up to pay their respects.

Lest We Forget.

09/09/2026

It Opened New Doors

People often worry that joining the Reserves could hold their career back.

For Valerie Wilson, her military experience helped move her career forward.

Valerie explains how the leadership skills and experience she gained through the Reserves helped open doors at BT, leading to new roles and eventually becoming the first female engineering manager in Northern Ireland.

Our next podcast episode Service, Leadership and Life Beyond the Reserves: Valerie Wilson's Story will be released soon.

🔔 Subscribe now to be notified when it goes live.

https://www.youtube.com//podcasts

08/09/2026

Join us for an Invictus Games Guest Speaker - Veterans’ Evening, on 1 October, from 7–9 p.m. at the Island Centre, Lisburn, kindly hosted by the Mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council.

This free event is open to all veterans, and members of the Armed Forces community. Friends and family are very welcome to attend too.

Please register using the link below, we look forward to seeing you there! 👇

https://www.nivco.co.uk/the-road-to-the-invictus-games-birmingham-2027/

📆 1st October 2026
⏰. 7-9 p.m.
📍Island Centre, Lisburn

08/09/2026

An Unexpected Path

What started with a love of sport, the outdoors and a bit of adventure ended up shaping Valerie Smith's future in ways she never expected.

Valerie shares how joining the Air Training Corps and later the Officer Training Corps at Queen's University introduced her to lifelong friends, leadership opportunities and ultimately the military world that would become such an important part of her life.

The full episode will be released soon. Subscribe now to be notified when it goes live.

🔔 https://nivco.podbean.com/

07/09/2026

Anto remembers Cyril Smith, a young soldier whose bravery in 1990 came at a devastating cost.

Cyril was behind cover when he realised that others at the checkpoint didn't know a civilian had been tied inside a van containing a bomb. Instead of staying safely where he was he put himself in danger in an attempt to save that man's life.

Anto talks about the courage Cyril showed that day, the impact his death had on those who knew him, and why his memory continues to be honoured.

The full episode goes live tomorrow, listen to it here when it goes live:

https://nivco.podbean.com/

06/09/2026

Ranger Motorcycle Club

For Anto, part of moving forward has been helping others. Riding a motorbike is more than a hobby. It's one of the ways he clears his head and gets a break from everything else going on.

That idea became part of the reason he started the Ranger Motorcycle Club, bringing veterans together for regular rides, friendship and support.

But there's another side to the club too. They want to help veterans with the everyday things that can sometimes feel overwhelming, and remind them that they're not on their own.

A really interesting look at the thinking behind the club and what Anto hopes it can become.

Watch the full episode now.

nivco.co.uk/podcasts

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Unit 9, Maine Business Centre, Main Street, Cullybackey
Ballymena
BT421BW

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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