Barry Sterland was educated in Sydney, completing his secondary schooling at Manly Boys High School and then studying Economics at the University of Sydney. After working for some years in the Commonwealth Public Service, Sterland was awarded a Fulbright scholarship and completed a Master's degree in Public Policy program at the Woodrow Wilson School, Princeton University. On his return to Australia, Sterland continued to work for the Department of Treasury before transferring to Prime Minister and Cabinet and subsequently to the Department of the Environment.
