Military precision puts data cruncher Luke in top 100

Luke Parker, a former Wickersley School student from Bramley, was named in the DataIQ Top 100 “Most Influential People in Data and Analytics 2022.”

It is the first time anyone from the British Military has features on the list, which has been described as the data equivalent of the Forbes Rich List.

The list has been tracking the rise of top data and analytics officials and data scientists since 2014 and inclusion in the DataIQ 100 is a notable badge of honour, said Cpt Parker (pictured).

At the height of the pandemic, Cpt Parker was seconded to the Joint Biosecurity Centre (JBC), where he led several different teams, including the Regional Assessment Team, which was responsible for non-pharmaceutical intervention (NPI) recommendations to the country’s chief medical officer.

Cpt Parker, a chartered engineer, later led the NHS Test and Trace Asymptomatic Testing Programme team responsible for supporting local authorities in the West Midlands, leading the county to become the first with national approval from the Government.

His DataIQ citation reads: “Cpt Luke Parker is a phenomenal leader in the field of geospatial data and analytics whose influence belies his rank.

“He firmly operates at the strategic level, inspiring thought and change from senior leaders in both Defence and industry.”

A graduate from the prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Cpt Parker has served in Norway, Jordan, Pakistan, and Canada and became the youngest ever Fellow of the Institute of Royal Engineers.

He is currently living in Canada, supporting the Canadian Armed Forces.