William graduated from of Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School in 1979 and Swinburne Film School (Melbourne, Australia – Now Victorian College of the Arts) in 1991 (Bachelor of Arts – Film and Television).
He was Artistic Director of Centrepoint Theatre in Palmerston North from 1984-86 and Downstage Theatre in Wellington from 1994-96.
His play Take Me Home Mr! won him a Chapman Tripp award for Most Promising New Playwright in 1993. He is currently the Head of the Drama Department at Whangarei Girls’ High School where he remains a productive and prolific playwright and director.