The story behind the name
Flying Change was established in 2021 by Mike Barker. Mike’s goal was to create a platform from which he can use his rare combination of skills to guide and support people through life’s significant events and times of change – whether personal or business-related.
A lawyer and accountant, Mike has built a highly successful career traversing the legal, finance and corporate worlds, holding a string of senior executive roles in both Australia and the UK.
Along the way, he’s also dealt first-hand with a series of very challenging situations. In his professional life, these included leading the largest division of Australia’s top law firm (a team of 250+ lawyers), and heading up high-stress mergers and acquisitions. Meanwhile in his personal life, Mike had to navigate the heartbreak of a miscarriage of twins and subsequently his own divorce and mental health struggles.
Through this journey, Mike has gained a uniquely balanced and considered perspective, and the ability to apply his skills in a raft of different contexts. A genuine ‘people person’, Mike established Flying Change with a simple desire to help people – and to use his own experiences for the benefit of others.
About Mike Barker
Born in the UK, Mike’s aptitude for critical thinking led him to study both Law and Natural Sciences at Cambridge. Over the next two decades, he established a name for himself as a trusted senior executive, working for leading international law firms and business advisers in the UK and Australia. Mike’s experience has been both broad and deep, covering all facets of the corporate world – from leadership, governance and operations to legal and financial matters. Having led large teams, he also became skilled at managing people, and navigating complex situations.
Mike’s journey came to an important crossroads in 2016 when his 22-year marriage broke down, caused in part by his enormously demanding career. With his relationship over and his daughter now an adult, Mike realised he needed to consider what really mattered. He asked himself some hard questions – and went on to re-shape the next phase of his life in accordance with his values.
Regular burnout was replaced with a healthy work/life balance, as Mike swapped his corporate career for a combination of consultancy work, mentoring, volunteering, and non-executive directorships. Having learnt to ride horses again after a 20-year break, Mike even took up polo (a dream of his) at the age of 50 – and he now spends much time with his beloved horses.
In 2020, the idea behind Flying Change started to emerge, as Mike realised how many professionals around him were navigating tough times in their personal or business lives, often alone or without someone independent they could trust to talk to openly. This spurred Mike on to establish himself as a Divorce Guide, Business Adviser and Mediator – all under the banner of Flying Change.
Where Mike works
Being Sydney based, Mike works primarily with clients in all parts of the city of Sydney, whether from the Eastern Suburbs, Northern Beaches, Inner West or Southern Sydney. He also covers surrounding regions, including the Hawkesbury, Blue Mountains, Sutherland Shire, Southern Highlands and Central Coast. Many of his services can be offered remotely to serve clients NSW-wide and beyond.
