Michael Rodrigues is New South Wales (NSW) first 24-Hour Economy Commissioner, having been appointed in April 2021. In December 2023, the Commissioner’s role was made statutory, and the Office’s remit was expanded from Greater Sydney to all of NSW. In the role, Michael leads the Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner in NSW Government and is responsible for delivering the 24-Hour Economy Strategy.    

Michael has been a passionate and vocal advocate for the 24-hour economy for many years. He launched global lifestyle brand Time Out in Sydney in 2007 and served as Managing Director until 2021.   Motivated by the challenges facing Sydney’s night-time economy, Michael also founded and chaired the Night Time Industries Association from 2018-2021, which played a critical role in overturning the lockout laws.

Before diving into the world of media and night-time advocacy, Michael Rodrigues was a Civil Engineer in Sydney and a Senior Lawyer in Dubai, after graduating from University of New South Wales.