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New Zealand Comedy Trust announces new general director
Rae Baker is the NZ Comedy Trust's new general director
The New Zealand Comedy Trust has appointed Rae Baker as general director to lead the organisation’s mission of making sure every New Zealander gets to share a laugh.
Baker joins the trust with more than 20 years of experience leading festivals and cultural organisations across New Zealand and Scotland. Her career is grounded in artistic integrity, stakeholder partnerships and the kind of resilient organisational thinking that keeps creative institutions thriving long-term.
Powerful grounding
She cut her teeth at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, spending eight years working in close partnership with comedy powerhouses Gilded Balloon and Pleasance Trust.
That grounding in what makes live performance genuinely connect with audiences has shaped everything she’s done since. This includes leading the Queenstown Winter Festival through a transformation that deepened its connection to artists, audiences and community.
Through her own consultancy, Baker continues to serve as festival director of the Flavours of Plenty Festival. She also supports festival events organisations across Aotearoa to strengthen their strategy, governance and funding models.
Ambition for the road ahead
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.”
Baker 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.”
She takes up the role on May 4.
