Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner

The 24-Hour Economy Commissioner is bringing State and Local Governments and industry together to create safe and vibrant opportunities for people to enjoy Sydney. Find out more about our people and purpose.

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What we do

At the Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner we work with other government partners, local councils, industry and the community to build vibrant, diverse, inclusive and safe hospitality and entertainment precincts.

We seek to enhance both the economic output of the state and amenity for residents and tourists alike.

We aim to do this by improving the conditions for flexible day and night trading. In so doing the Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner makes a positive contribution to the desirability of NSW as the best global location to live, work, play and invest.

We seek to integrate planning and placemaking, diversify night-time activities, promote industry and cultural development, improve safety, mobility and connectivity and change the narrative around CBDs across Greater Sydney.

The Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner is part of the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport.

To find out more about our programs, and how we collaborate with business, communities and government, see our Topic pages, 24-hour economy in Greater Sydney

Meet our 24-Hour Economy Commissioner

Michael Rodrigues, 24-Hour Economy Commissioner

Michael Rodrigues is NSW's first ever 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 NSW 24-Hour Economy Strategy.

Michael has been a passionate and vocal advocate for NSW's 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 to 2021, which played a critical role in overturning the lockout laws.

24-Hour Economy Advisory Group

Our members support the NSW Government to turbocharge job creation and night-time business activity.

What the Advisory Group does

The Advisory Group helps the NSW Government to implement the 24-Hour Economy Strategy (PDF 3.4MB) They develop ideas to:

assist business to bounce back from the pandemic
bring a vibrant nightlife back to the city
increase the diversity of night-time activities
promote Sydney as a global 24-hour economy.

How members are appointed

Members were appointed by an independent panel through an EOI process for a minimum 12-month term.

Applications were assessed by a selection panel comprising of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner, the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport representatives from its group Create NSW, Destination NSW and the Department of Planning.

Meetings

The Advisory Group meets quarterly in-person. Meeting dates for 2023 will be communicated directly to members.

Current members

Current members work in local government, arts and culture, sport, hospitality, and live performance.

Brett Adlington (Museums & Galleries of NSW)
Katie Anderson (Randwick City Council)
Samuel Beck (Team Leisurely)
Jaymes Boland-Rudder (National Rugby League)
James Boyce (Grumpy Sailor Creative)
Scott Boyes (Accor)
Amanda Choularton (South by Southwest Sydney)
Shaun Christie-David (Plate it Forward)
Joe Muller (MusicNSW)
Helen Machalias (Property Council of Australia)
Liza Cordoba (Northern Beaches Council)
Andrew Coward (Reactivate Consulting)
Craig Donarski (Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre)
Kat Dopper (Heaps Gay/Summer Camp Festival/Queer Agency)
Amanda Farrar (Australian Museum)
Susana Freitas (Liverpool City Council)
Michael Gibb (Night Time Industries Association)
Kerri Glasscock (The Sydney Fringe)
John Green (Australian Hotels Association NSW)
Rachael Hammond (Art Gallery of New South Wales)
David Harding (Business NSW)
Michael Hodgson (The Entertainment Quarter)
John Hughes (Luna Park Sydney)
Lucy Joseph (Live Music Office)
Carolin Lenehan (Business Events Sydney)
Nicole Lestal (Spirits and Cocktails Association)
Matt Levinson (Committee for Sydney)
Jade McKellar (Sydney Opera House)
Sarah Baker (City of Parramatta)
Margy Osmond (Tourism and Transport Forum)
Simone Plummer (Inner West Council)
Beau Reid (Penrith City Council)
Tiffany Robertson (AFL)
Julia Robinson (ARIA PPCA)
Karl Schlothauer (CEO, House of Pocket; President, Independent Bars Association of NSW; Vice President, YCK Laneways)
Elliot Solomon (Solotel)
Alicia Talbot (Blacktown City Council)
Houri Tapiki (Theatre Royal Sydney)
Christopher Tooher (Sydney Festival)
Nick Van Tiel (Merivale)
Mark Wilsdon (The Powerhouse)
Mitch Wilson (Australian Festival Association)
Lara Wolski (City of Sydney)

More information

To find out more about our programs, and how we collaborate with business, communities and government, see our Topic pages, 24-hour economy in Greater Sydney

There you can also access our podcast, sign up to our newsletter, and stay up to date with news.