Jonathan Venter (13)

Jonathan Venter is a talented young racing driver who has set his aim on the world stage. Jonathan grew up around cars and racing, so much of his life has been around the racetrack.
He won an Australian Championship and three state titles in karting all before the age of 15, also representing Australia at the Rotax World Championship  in 2010.  Following this Venter became the youngest driver to race Bathurst (Mount Panorama) at only 16 years and 4 days.  He has raced at Bathurst three times in Formula Ford securing multiple podium and race wins and competed in the Bathurst 12hr three times: 2013 (BMW1 series), 2014 (Porsche Carrera Cup Car) and 2015 in the Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3.
Recent career highlights include: 2016 Most decorated driver in the GT Asia series (Raced for Bentley), and 2017 Factory Audi deal for Blancpain Endurance Series (most recognised and competitive GT3 championship in the world racing with Audi #1 team). 
Jonathan is currently aspiring to become a paid, professional driver for a big manufacturer racing in GTs around the world.

Angelique Tot (13)

Angelique Tot is a classical Soprano singer based in Sydney. She is currently attending UNSW completing her fourth year of a double degree - Bachelor of Music (Honours) and Bachelor of Education (Secondary). Her most recent casting was as Kate in Pirates of Penzance with Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Sydney.

After completing her undergraduate degree Angelique would like to do Masters of Music in Opera Performance at the Royal College of Music in London. She is inspired by the standard opera repertoire such as Carmen, La Boheme and Don Giovanni but would also love to be involved in Oratorio works, premiering new pieces and performing 21st century Operas.

Tom Williamson (09) 

 Tom Williamson commenced at Oxford University in October 2017, after being named NSW Rhodes Scholar. Tom intends to study a MSc in Economics for Development and a Master of Public Policy at Oxford. He has a passion for economic development, particularly in how to develop the private sector in emerging economies. At Oxford Tom is looking to build on his practical experience in development consulting through research on what works and what doesn't work in business training, consulting and microfinance programs.

Since leaving Barker, Tom has volunteered as a mentor to Sudanese refugees settled in Sydney, acted as a pro-bono consultant to non-profit organisations and volunteered as a legal researcher for the International Crimes Evidence Project, investigating alleged war crimes during the Sri Lankan civil war.

Tom said Barker taught him the importance of service and contribution. "That who you are as a person is more important than what you achieve. Just being around intelligent, passionate teachers and students over the eight years I was at Barker fundamentally shaped my aspirations and approach to life".

Emma Chelsey Barnes (08)

 Emma Chelsey studied Drama whilst at Barker College and was actively involved in many theatrical and musical productions. In 2009, straight out of high school, Emma  successfully auditioned for one of the country’s top acting schools WAAPA, that boasts Barker alumni including Sean Moore (08) and Jarod Draper (14) and graduated in 2011.

 Since then, Emma has made her mark in the Australian industry with roles in film, television and theatre. Emma is best known for her work in films Mercy, In Transit, The Heart  Thief and Zelos as well as roles on television in Home and Away and Comedy Inc.

 Emma is currently developing her own comedy television series Belle Vue and has interest from several US managers.

Michael Scott Mitchell (78)

Michael Scott-Mitchell is one of Australia’s leading set designers and a prolific artist working across theatre, opera, dance, film, television, events and exhibition design within Australia and internationally. His contribution to the Australian performing arts has been recognised with Helpmann awards, Australian Production Design Guild (APDG) awards and Green Room awards, to name a few. His other major work includes the Cauldron and Ceremonial Stage for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, the Opening Ceremony of the 2006 Asian Games in Doha and the Opening Ceremony of 2011 CHOGM in Perth. Michael’s Cauldron for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games is the youngest heritage listed item in Australian history.

Michael offers the following advice for today’s Barker students. Take full advantage of the extraordinary facilities that the School offers – particularly in any area of the visual or performing arts. Find every opportunity to explore and express your creative impulses and areas of enquiry and, wherever possible, record these explorations for future reference: in particular, where applicable, to the NIDA application process!

Bill Coaldrake (70)

Professor William Howard Coaldrake MVO FAHA was invested as a member of the Royal Victorian Order for “services to the Royal Collection”. This award is the personal order of Her Majesty The Queen and recognises distinguished service to Her Majesty.

Over a period of some 20 years, Bill Coaldrake persuaded the Royal Collection to allow him to uncover, document and finally restore a grand model of the Taitokuin Reibyo, or Taitokuin Mausoleum. This large-scale replica of an architectural icon of old Edo, was made in Tokyo in 1909-10, then given to King George V. The original building, along with much of Tokyo, was destroyed during WWII. Bills father, Canon Frank Coaldrake, was the first Australian missionary to enter Japan after the war. At this time Tokyo was a desolate place and the Taitokuin mausoleum had become part of the desolation. Bill discovered a perfect scale model of the Mausolem existed in the Royal Collection. Bill was the driving force behind the transportation of the model back to Japan and reconstructed at Zojoji temple in Tokyo. The model is now on display to the public as a symbolic connection between old Edo and the British royal family.