She is principally noted for her role at the Bank of England and for advising the British government on social issues such as housing and health care.

She received a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics at St Hilda's College, Oxford in 1979 and then worked for a large pension fund in London.

[2] She was also a member of the HM Treasury's Panel of Independent Economic Advisers 1996–97; and a non-executive director of the Yorkshire Building Society (1999-April 2001).

[3] Barker was appointed as an external member of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England with effect from 1 June 2001.

[citation needed] Barker was appointed by the Government in April 2003 to conduct an independent Review of UK Housing Supply, leading to a final report in March 2004.

In 2014 she chaired a commission on the Future of Health and Social Care in England for the King's Fund, which delivered its final report in September.

[13] In April 2020 Barker became a trustee of the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), and takes over as chairman from Professor Sir David Eastwood in September 2020.