Newsmaker: Kylie Lang

This week's Newsmaker is Kylie Lang who has been heavily involved with organising the inaugural Rotorua GLO Festival, a three-day New Year's event.

Tell us about yourself?

I'm 38, I got married last year to Graeme Jaques. I have a cat called Mushka, who is blind, and I love running, travel and food.

How did you get involved with event management in Rotorua?

I studied event management at Massey University in Palmerston North, where I was born, and I was a primary teacher in Rotorua for eight years at Western Heights Primary School and Owhata Primary School. I decided I wanted a change from teaching before I became a grumpy teacher. I use to organise children and now I organise events.

What is your role at the Rotorua District Council?

Events and Venues Rotorua major event co-ordinator.

What was your role at the GLO Festival?

I organised two of the festival's feature events. The Buskers and Bazaar event held on December 30 and The First Big Brunch event on January 1.

What did you think was the best part about the GLO Festival?

I think it is the public attending and seeing them enjoying themselves. That is what makes it worthwhile for me.

What can you work on to make it better next year?

That will be my plan when I get back to work on Monday. I'll be looking to get as much feedback as I can from people who attended and worked at the festival. We will have a break before we start preparing again for next New Year's but about six months out from a big event we start trying to lock something in.

What was your personal favourite act during the festival and why?

Lukas Wharekura, he was on the front page of The Weekender and he just has a really good voice. He didn't win but I think he has a big future.

Are you a musician of sorts?

Not at all. I just get others to do it.

Tell us three things about yourself that most people wouldn't know?

I have a place at the beach in Papamoa so I spend a lot of time there.

In March this year I'm running an ultra marathon, 60km. I ran my first marathon last year in Rotorua.

I've just started eating vegan style which is going really well. I've been at it for seven weeks.