Sir James Alan Noel Barlow, 2nd Baronet GCB KBE FSA (25 December 1881 – 28 February 1968) was a British civil servant and collector of Islamic and Chinese art.

He started collecting Islamic pottery and Chinese ceramics as a child and later donated pieces to museums and the University of Sussex.

The First World War altered the direction of his career since in 1915 he was moved to the Ministry of Munitions to be private secretary to Christopher Addison, who became the Minister.

However, the two men were not suited to each other and in 1934 Barlow was transferred to the Treasury where he remained, rising to a senior position and being a member of several committees that together were concerned with the machinery of government.

He chaired a committee in 1945 - 1946 that recommended foundation of a new technological university and increasing the number of science graduates, but it was not implemented.