Former Premier Mike Baird is confident the banking industry can recover in light of the royal commission.

Mr Baird left politics behind 19 months ago, taking up a new role as chief customer officer for corporate and institutional banking at the National Australia Bank.

With the Banking Royal Royal Commission tainting the industry at the moment, Mr Baird is confident he can change the culture of banking, at NAB at the least.

“I’ve encouraged all the team to read everything about the Royal Commission, to listen, to absorb it, to feel it,” Mr Baird tells Ben Fordham.

Mr Baird returned to Macquarie Street this week to face the Upper House Committee critical of his government’s decision to shut down the Powerhouse Museum at Ultimo and shift it to Parramatta.

“It is going to be fantastic for Western Sydney, so no apologies,” Mike tells Ben.

When conversation turns to the light rail project, Mr Baird is careful to keep his opinion positive.

“Obviously there have been some challenges that have been articulated by the government, and I’ll let the Premier and Transport Minister talk to them, but in the long term there’s going to be great benefits.”

The light rail contracts were signed under Baird’s leadership.

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