Barbara Baker

Barbara Avalon Baker (born 31 March 1958) is an Australian barrister and former judge, who was the 29th governor of Tasmania from June 2021 to June 2026. She served on the Federal Circuit Court of Australia from 2008 to 2021. Baker was succeeded as governor by Caroline Wells on 17 June 2026.

Early life Baker was born on 31 March 1958 in Hobart, Tasmania, and raised in Sandy Bay. Her parents were Alison Burton, a tennis player, and Bob Baker, a lawyer who became a Liberal member of the Tasmanian Parliament. Baker studied arts and law at the University of Tasmania, graduating in 1980 (BA, LLB).

Career Baker was admitted to the legal profession in 1983. She joined Simmons Wolfhagen as a solicitor and later worked for the Office of the Solicitor-General. In 1993 she became the first female partner at Murdoch Clarke. She served on the executive of the Law Society of Tasmania (1995–1996) and as president of the Family Law Practitioners' Association (2002). She 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.

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

Baker captained Tasmania in indoor hockey. She was also an accomplished real tennis player, winning the singles and doubles events of the 1998 Australian Open.