Patrick Waller (1964) immigrated from Mexico in 1984 and graduated in Industrial Design Engineering from the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft). After a period of working as a freelance designer, he made the switch to the management of Pathé cinemas, where he occupied various positions. His final position was that of regional manager, in which he was responsible for the results of five (multiplex) cinemas in the Randstad conurbation.

Patrick Waller has been affiliated with the Amsterdam University of the Arts as director of the Service Bureau since 2001. This Bureau consists of seven departments – 'Concern control', 'Central administration and purchasing', 'Premises and administration', 'ICT', 'Information management', 'Education, research, communication', 'HR' and the 'Secretariat'.