John Baird BSc, BA, MA(Hons)

John Baird has been managing director of several major consumer product businesses and is currently a director of Mighty River Power, Ovita, Sleepyhead, the Auckland Rugby Union and a number of private companies. He is a former director of Goodman Fielder-Goodman Fielder Wattie, Ceramco and Baycorp.

After 28 years working in public companies, Mr Baird decided to split his time between voluntary, business-related, and personal activities. His volunteer work has been with Project K, where he is a trustee, and  personal projects have included some part-time study to complete a Bachelor of Arts in Māori Studies, at Auckland University.

As well, Mr Baird holds a Bachelor of Science in mathematics and statistics from Otago University, a Master of Arts in engineering from Oxford University (where he was a Rhodes scholar), and a Diploma in Marketing from the Institute of Marketing in the United Kingdom. He also played rugby for Canterbury, Otago, Oxford University and Yorkshire.

John Baird was appointed to the Tribunal in 1999.