Dane Baker

Dane is a New Zealand registered Dietitian who has worked extensively with New Zealand’s leading athletes and sporting organisations over the past 15 years. After graduating from Otago University in 2003, Dane worked clinically as a Diabetes Dietitian for the Waitemata DHB before becoming immersed in sports nutrition.

In 2008 he worked abroad in Qatar where he was a sports nutrition specialist at ASPETAR, a world-leading FIFA sports medicine facility. Since returning to New Zealand in 2009 he has worked with The Chiefs rugby team, where he was part of their back-to-back titles in 2012 & 2013, and was being part of setting up an innovative research program with Otago and Waikato Universities. In recent years Dane has shifted allegiances closer to home, working as Sports Dietitian for The Blues (2019-2022) and now for the OneNZ Warriors (2024-2025).

Dane has also worked extensively with High Performance Sport New Zealand from 2010-2020 where he was a Senior Performance Nutritionist. He was the lead nutritionist for the Black Ferns 7's Team and previously NZ Men's Hockey Team, NZ Swimming and the Football Ferns. He is a founding member of the specialist multidisciplinary initiative WHISPA (Women's Health, a Performance Advantage), a dedicated group of specialists working to optimise female health and performance through research and education.

In addition to sport Dane specialises in working with patients suffering from RED-S, fertility issues, osteoarthritis and diabetes. As well as being a key part of Axis, he also works closely with the team at Fertility Associates.  

Dane is also involved with numerous research projects at the University of Otago where he is a professional Fellow and lecturer.

Outside of work, he is a passionate fisherman and surfer when he doesn't have his hands full looking after his young family.

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