 His father was Deputy Leader of the New South Wales Liberal Party and Member of Parliament representing the electoral district of Northcott, and later a Member of the Australian House of Representatives, representing the Division of Cook, for the Liberal Party.Baird attended The King's School, Parramatta, and spent time living in the United States of America while his father served as head of the Australian trade commission in New York City.Baird graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with majors in Economics and Government from the University of Sydney in 1989.