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Job title: chief executive, Arts Waikato


Hilary Falconer, 50, has translated her love of the arts into a full-time job.

Keen on "all the arts" but theatre in particular, she says her new job with Arts Waikato is about working alongside community arts groups to help them to make the most of their resources.

For example, Ngaruawahia people are being advised and supported in their plan to set up a community arts centre, Twin Rivers, which will bring working artists together.

Arts Waikato, which was set up a year ago by the Music and Art Waikato Trust, is not a funder, says Falconer - though it does have a few scholarships to give out.

Falconer sees her job as one of running a "community development" organisation, its roles reflecting "the importance of arts and culture to community development. The big plan is to work through the Waikato region increasing the profile of the arts in the community."

Part of that involves advising groups on how to make the most of their applications for funds and offering administrative and strategic support - "support and advocacy are the two key words".

Falconer was born in England and came out to New Zealand in 1964.

She gained a bachelor of education from the University of Waikato in the mid-70s - "like everyone else" in those days, she says - and spent a few years primary and secondary teaching, interspersed with raising her children.

Then she swapped schoolbooks for freelance journalism, working from her home.

Falconer later joined her husband, Rhys Mathias, for 10 years in their media consultancy Mathias Media.

It's been a while since Falconer sat at a desk in a corporate office. "I've virtually worked from home since about the late 70s," she says. "I'm reversing the trend for working from home."