Experts & Staff

Steve Barker joined WRI in June 2005 as their Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Finance and Administration. His charter is to ensure financially sound and efficient business practices and infrastructure to enable WRI to vigorously pursue its mission.

Steve has over 25 years of experience in international and domestic financial management with both for-profit and non-profit organizations, spanning a variety of industries and missions:

• As CFO for the Air Force Aid Society (2001-2005), Steve was responsible for leading the finance/investments ($170M portfolio), accounting, and information systems functions for the organization. Air Force Aid is a private non-profit (501-c3) that provides emergency financial and tuition assistance to Air Force Families.
• Prior to AFAS, Steve consulted with NatureServe, a spin-off from The Nature Conservancy, as their Chief Financial Advisor.
• As the VP of Finance for Thomson Prometric (1994-2001), Steve planned and built the infrastructure for more than 375 computer-based testing sites in 180 different countries, ramping up from four to nearly 400 employees in four years.
• Before joining Thomson Prometric, Steve held other finance leadership roles, including the role of Assistant Vice President – Finance for a division of GE Capital (1988-1994).

At WRI, Steve is responsible for business planning and institutional strategy, information systems, human resources, risk management, facilities, accounting and contract governance and compliance, and metrics to manage our performance. He serves as the Board secretary and treasurer, and is the primary liaison with the Finance, Investment, and Audit Committees of the Board.

Steve is committed to WRI’s mission, goals, and values, and is applying his expertise in growing international companies to help WRI with its growth objectives; WRI is on track to grow 46% from 2005 to 2009. He recently served as acting COO/Managing Director while WRI conducted a search, thereby giving him increased insight into the substance of each program.

Steve completed the Executive MBA program at The College of William and Mary in 2006, which included international study at Koc University, in Istanbul, Turkey and the European Business School in Frankfurt, Germany. He was inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma honor society, the highest recognition business students throughout the world can receive. He received his Bachelor of Science in Finance from San Diego State University with a minor in Mechanical Engineering. Steve is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Certified Financial Manager (CFM), and member of the Institute of Management Accountants.

Steve lives in Virginia with his wife Jacquie, who is a software engineer/instructor/author and founder of Pets Bring Joy, a charitable organization devoted to pet rescue.