Mike Barker, Board Member
Board Member, Kai-Fella
External Legal Consultant, EMR Capital | Founder, Flying Change Services
Mike Barker brings over 25 years of legal and business expertise to the Kai-Fella Board. He currently serves as an External Legal Consultant for EMR Capital and leads his own advisory practice, Flying Change Services, which helps individuals and businesses navigate major life transitions—ranging from divorce and mediation to strategic business advice. A corporate legal and finance professional by background, Mike has worked in leading professional services firms across the UK (where he was born and raised) and Australia.
Mike first encountered Kai-Fella during a visit to Perth, where a former colleague brought him to a 24-hour fundraising Pilates event held in memory of Kai, a year after his passing. The experience—and the powerful work Claire and the Kai-Fella Foundation were doing—left a lasting impression. It inspired Mike to focus his charitable energy on two causes close to his heart: mental health and youth education.
Having experienced mental illness himself, Mike understands firsthand the importance of breaking down the stigma that surrounds mental health. Joining Kai-Fella in 2021 was a deeply personal and heart-warming step—an opportunity to give back and support an organisation that empowers young people to speak openly and empathetically about mental wellbeing.
Mike holds undergraduate and master’s degrees in Law from Cambridge University and is admitted to practice in England, Wales, and Australia. He is a graduate of the AICD Directors Course, a part-qualified Chartered Accountant, and trained in mediation and collaborative dispute resolution.
He brings to the Kai-Fella Board a unique blend of legal, governance, and business acumen—complemented by strong empathy, deep listening skills, and an understanding of the emotional dimensions of decision-making. His goal is to help guide the organisation through its growth phase while supporting fellow Board members and mentoring Claire in her dual role as Founder and CEO.
Away from work, Mike is a father to a beautiful young woman and finds renewal and wellbeing through his love of horses and polo. Caring for his three horses offers him a grounding connection to nature and a welcome balance to his professional life. He also enjoys travel, 20th-century history, movies, and tackling mind and number puzzles.
Fun fact: Mike was once bumped from a Concorde flight at the last minute—by none other than Naomi Campbell.
Advice to his teenage self: “Learn to love yourself first, then you can love others.”