About Karen Baird

Karen has a Masters degree in zoology and has worked in a professional capacity in conservation since 1986: NZ Wildlife Service, Department of Conservation, Ministry for the Environment and now with Forest & Bird. Karen has also been involved in wildlife tourism setting up Kiwi Wildlife Tours and running tours throughout New Zealand and the Pacific. Projects she has been involved in include studying the little spotted kiwi on Kapiti Island, New Zealand sea lion, southern right whale and royal albatross on New Zealand sub-antarctic islands, and efforts to establish marine reserves in New Zealand. Before joining Forest & Bird Karen was project manager for Raoul Island in the Kermadecs for the Department of Conservation.

Karen enjoys adventuring and has undertaken expeditions to Africa and South America. These adventures included paddling a canoe down a tributary of the Amazon. This will be the first time Karen has sailed across the Pacific in a yacht.