Barber was born in Auckland on 8 July 1987,[1] the daughter of Shirley Somervell, who represented New Zealand at the 1974 British Commonwealth Games[3][4] finishing seventh in the final of the 800 m. Barber was educated at Diocesan School for Girls, Auckland.

[5] Barber competed in the 20 kilometres race walk at the 2015 World Championships in Athletics, finishing 18th and setting a New Zealand record of 1:33:20.

[6] The following year, at the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics, she recorded a time of 1:35:55 in finishing 35th in the same event.

[1] Her inaugural New Zealand national title came in the 20 km race walk in Hamilton in 2018.

[2] In the 20 km walk at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, Barber won the silver medal, finishing in a time of 1:34:18, 1:28 behind the winner, Jemima Montag of Australia.