Barbara Baker

For the American geneticist, see Barbara Baker (molecular biologist).

Her Excellency The Honourable Barbara Baker AC
File:Barbara Baker 2022.jpg Baker in 2022
29th Governor of Tasmania
Incumbent
Assumed office 16 June 2021
Monarchs	Elizabeth II Charles III
Premier	Peter Gutwein Jeremy Rockliff
Lieutenant Governor	Alan Blow (2021–24) Christopher Shanahan (2025–present)
Preceded by	Kate Warner
Judge of the Federal Circuit Court
In office 27 October 2008 – 31 January 2021
Personal details
Born	Barbara Avalon Baker (1958-03-31) 31 March 1958 Hobart, Tasmania
Spouse	Don Chalmers
Parents	Bob Baker (father) Alison Burton (mother)
Alma mater	University of Tasmania
Profession	Lawyer Judge

Barbara Avalon Baker (born 31 March 1958) is an Australian barrister and former judge, who is the 29th and current governor of Tasmania since 16 June 2021. She served on the Federal Circuit Court of Australia from 2008 to 2021. By convention, her term as governor will expire in 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). She represented Tasmania in tennis and field hockey at under-18 level.

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. As a lawyer Baker "specialised in family law and relationship matters". She served on the executive of the Law Society of Tasmania (1995–1996) and as president of the Family Law Practitioners' Association (2002).

In 2008, Baker was appointed to the Federal Magistrates Court of Australia, the first Tasmanian woman to serve on the court. In 2013 the court was renamed the Federal Circuit Court and its members received the title "judge" rather than magistrate. She retired from the judiciary in January 2021 and returned to practise as a barrister at Burbury Chambers.

Governor of Tasmania

In May 2021, Premier Peter Gutwein announced that Baker would succeed Kate Warner as governor of Tasmania with effect from 16 June. 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. She also said that her personal views on the monarchy or republicanism were not relevant to the position.

In the 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours she was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia.

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.