He has been professor of public health at the University of Otago in Wellington since 2013 and is director of the Health Environment Infection Research Unit (HEIRU). He is co-director of the university s He Kainga Oranga/Housing and Health Research Programme and the Public Health Summer School.
Prof Baker has a range of public health research interests, with a particular focus on infectious diseases, environmental health and housing and has published widely in these areas.
As a member of the Ministry of Health s Covid-19 technical advisory group, he strongly advocated for eliminating the virus and keeping it out of the country. His commentary helped inform the government s decision for a national lockdown.