Barrau served as student council president at Sciences Po during the May 68 events.
He subsequently became director of teaching at the Centre national d'information pour le progrès économique.
He held several administrative positions linked to the European Parliament, and was appointed its Director of the Information Office for France in 2008.
From 1974 to 1986, Barrau was President of the Comité national des associations de jeunesse et d’éducation populaire and was a member of the Conseil national de la vie associative et du Conseil économique et social.
Alain Barrau died in Paris on 24 July 2021 at the age of 74 following a battle with cerebrovascular disease.