Simon Baker Email & Phone Number

After many years of working in the media I have turned my focus to media operations at events. This has involved everything from venue planning and set-up to troubleshooting during global tournaments, and post-event reviews for continuous improvements.To date I have enjoyed roles at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, as Deputy Photo Manager - Aquatics, Venue Photo Manager at the Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan, Photo Manager at the 2019, 2020 and 2021 Australian Open grand slam tennis tournaments, Photo Manager at the 16th FINA World Swimming Champs (25m) 2022 and as a Venue Media Manager at the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™ .I am grateful that my successful photography and video career has enabled such a smooth transition to the ‘other side’, and to be able to draw on my business operations experience. My years of experience at large sports and news events have given me valuable insight into what makes the working environments as efficient and effective as possible for the attending media. My calm nature and common-sense approach to problem-solving is an advantage in this high-pressure field, and I enjoy the challenges that each event brings.As an experienced photographer I have also enjoyed mentoring and guiding some of New Zealand’s emerging young talent over the past 25 years, including several who have gone on to carve out successful careers. And for over a decade I worked in the corporate video production sector, as well as training news photographers on how to shoot editorial video.A few of the major sports events I covered in my photography career include the 1987, 1999, 2003 and 2011 Rugby World Cups, 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, the 2000 Sydney Olympics and the 2007 Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean. Along the way I’ve picked up several photography awards including NZ Photographer of the Year in 2006, Single Best Photo in 2006 and Single Best Photo in the Qantas Media Awards in 1991.Specialties: Venue management, problem-solving and troubleshooting, corporate and editorial productions, mentoring, training, storytelling, event and news coverage with both video and photography.

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  Matamata College