The former NSW Premier was honoured for distinguished service to the people and Parliament of New South Wales – particularly during his time as its 44th Premier between 2014 and 2017 – and to the community in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
“I feel there are many more deserving people who won’t be recognised but incredibly thankful for the opportunity to serve my community and the people of NSW for 10 years,” he said in a statement.
Mr Baird left his investment banking career to enter state politics in 2007 as the member for Manly, where he became Treasurer after the Coalition won office in 2011.
After Barry O’Farrell resigned, Mr Baird became Premier before leaving politics in early 2017.
Mr Baird said he never planned to become a “career politician”, but wanted to “go as hard as I could for as long as I could and then step aside”.
He had returned to banking to work at NAB, but announced in April he would be replacing departing CEO Dr Stephen Judd as head of the Not For Profit from 1 September.
