Bayleys Executive Director, former REINZ CEO and property keynote speaker

Overview

Jen Baird is Executive Director, Auckland Residential at Bayleys Real Estate, and former Chief Executive of the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ), the industry body representing more than 16,000 real estate professionals. With a 25-year career spanning real estate, marketing and local government, she brings audiences a sharp, data-led view of the NZ property market and the leadership lessons of running an industry through significant regulatory and technological change.

Who is Jen Baird? Jen graduated from Waikato Management School with first-class honours in Marketing and International Management with Chinese, and was one of the first New Zealanders to graduate with a business degree majoring in Chinese. She spent six months studying in Shanghai before going on to spend a decade as Chief Marketing Officer at Barfoot & Thompson, followed by senior leadership roles at Hamilton City Council. She was Chief Executive of REINZ from July 2021 until March 2025, when she stepped across to Bayleys as Executive Director, Auckland Residential.

Career Highlights

• Executive Director, Auckland Residential, Bayleys Real Estate (from 2025)

• Former Chief Executive, Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (2021–2025)

• Former General Manager, City Growth, Hamilton City Council

• Former Chief Marketing Officer at Barfoot & Thompson (approximately 10 years)

• Bachelor of Management Studies (First Class Honours), Waikato Management School

• One of the first NZers to graduate with a business degree majoring in Chinese

• Led civil defence and crisis management for Hamilton City Council during the Covid-19 Alert Level 4 period

• Regular media commentator on the NZ property market and housing data

Key Speaking Themes

• The state of the New Zealand property market

• Leading an industry through regulatory and technological change

• Data, digital and the future of real estate

• Leadership, feedback and growing high-performing teams

• Marketing, brand and customer experience in property

What Your Audience Will Gain Jen brings clarity and credibility to the property conversation. Audiences leave with a fresh view of the housing market, the regulatory environment, and the leadership lessons of running a sector through significant change.

Ideal For

• Real estate, property and finance conferences

• Industry AGMs and customer events

• Marketing and customer-experience summits

• Women in leadership programmes

• Strategy days and executive offsites

Frequently Asked Questions...

What does Jen Baird speak about? The NZ property market, real estate industry trends, data and digital transformation, and leadership through change.

What is REINZ? The Real Estate Institute of New Zealand, the industry body representing more than 16,000 real estate professionals across the country.

When did Jen Baird become CEO of REINZ? In July 2021, after roles at Barfoot & Thompson and Hamilton City Council.

What is Jen Baird's background? A 25-year career across real estate, marketing, communications and local government, including a decade as CMO at Barfoot & Thompson.

Is Jen Baird available as an MC? Yes. Jen regularly hosts industry events, panel discussions and on-stage interviews on property and the wider NZ economy.

How long is a typical keynote? 45 minutes is standard with Q&A optional. Fireside chats, panel formats and MC engagements are also available.