14 Facts About Barbara Baker

Barbara Avalon Baker was born on 31 March 1958 and is an Australian barrister and former judge, who is the 29th and current governor of Tasmania since 16 June 2021.

Barbara Baker served on the Federal Circuit Court of Australia from 2008 to 2021.

Barbara Baker's parents were Alison Burton, a tennis player, and Bob Baker, a lawyer who became a Liberal member of the Tasmanian Parliament.

Barbara Baker studied arts and law at the University of Tasmania, graduating in 1980.

Barbara Baker represented Tasmania in tennis and field hockey at under-18 level.

Barbara Baker joined Simmons Wolfhagen as a solicitor and later worked for the Office of the Solicitor-General.

Barbara Baker served on the executive of the Law Society of Tasmania and as president of the Family Law Practitioners' Association.

In 2008, Barbara Baker was appointed to the Federal Magistrates Court of Australia, the first Tasmanian woman to serve on the court.

Barbara Baker retired from the judiciary in January 2021 and returned to practise as a barrister at Burbury Chambers.

In May 2021, Premier Peter Gutwein announced that Barbara Baker would succeed Kate Warner as governor of Tasmania with effect from 16 June.

Barbara Baker stated that she would "focus on gender equality and family violence issues in the community", as well as encouraging participation in sport and acting as a role model for young lawyers.

Barbara Baker said that her personal views on the monarchy or republicanism were not relevant to the position.

Barbara Baker is married to Don Chalmers AO, an emeritus professor of law at the University of Tasmania, and has two daughters.

Barbara Baker was an accomplished real tennis player, winning the singles and doubles events of the 1998 Australian Open.