NEW ZEALAND COMEDY TRUST APPOINTS NEW GENERAL DIRECTOR

The New Zealand Comedy Trust is thrilled to announce the appointment of Rae Baker as its new General Director, to lead the organisation on a mission to make sure every New Zealander gets to share a laugh.

Rae joins the Trust with more than 20 years of experience leading festivals and cultural organisations across New Zealand and Scotland, with a career grounded in artistic integrity, stakeholder partnerships, and the kind of resilient organisational thinking that keeps creative institutions thriving long-term.

Rae cut her teeth at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, spending eight years working in close partnership with comedy powerhouses Gilded Balloon and Pleasance Trust - two of the world's great comedy institutions. That grounding in what makes live performance genuinely connect with audiences has shaped everything she's done since, including leading the Queenstown Winter Festival through a bold creative transformation that deepened its connection to artists, audiences and community.

Through her own consultancy, Rae continues to serve as Festival Director of the Flavours of Plenty Festival whilst supporting festivals events organisations across Aotearoa to strengthen their strategy, governance and funding models, experience she brings directly to the Trust at a pivotal moment for New Zealand comedy.

Board Chair Rasmika Maharaj says the appointment reflects the Trust's ambition for the road ahead. "Rae's combination of festival leadership, commercial acumen, and genuine warmth makes her an outstanding fit for this role. We're excited about what she'll bring to the NZ International Comedy Festival and to the wider comedy community."

Rae says she is honoured to take the helm. "Comedy is how we make sense of the world, and New Zealanders are very good at it. I'm here to make sure we never stop proving it! I can't wait to work alongside the team, our artists, and our audiences to make sure everyone in Aotearoa gets to share a laugh."

Rae takes up the role on Monday, 4 May.