Cr Paul Barker grew up in Melbourne and Adelaide and joined the Royal Australian Air Force as his first substantial occupation. This led to living and travelling around Australia. Upon retiring from the Air Force he took up a variety roles in manufacturing and logistics management and operations before starting his own transport business and becoming a rappelling instructor in his late 20s.
After seven years of successful transport operations an opportunity arose for him transition away from ropes to become a skydive instructor. This was the catalyst for moving to the Surf Coast and calling Torquay home.
Cr Barker became politically active around the same time and stood in the 2019 Anglesea Council by-election before being successfully elected in the 2020 Surf Coast Shire Council election, and re-elected in 2024.
He plays basketball and netball at Wurdi Baierr Stadium, is on committees of local and national organisations, and enjoys motorcycling, sailing and skydiving.