Michael Jankie is head of trafficlight, the Melbourne-based company he set up to specialise in project management, lighting and installation design for theatre, events and other live performances. He’s worked on productions that have delighted audiences across Australia and around the world.

While at the Victorian College of the Arts, Michael wanted to develop an interesting business name so he could do casual work. He floated a few ideas past a classmate and picked the one she thought was the most stupid.

That brand name, trafficlight, launched Michael’s career and he hasn’t looked back. With its specialised technical and production managers and lighting design team, trafficlight produces work across the breadth of opera, dance, drama, corporate and community events. They have worked with companies as diverse as The Australian Ballet, 4-D International, Melbourne Theatre Company, Token Events, Chunky Move, Melbourne International Festival, Chamber Made, Royal New Zealand Ballet, Malthouse Theatre, Dancehouse, La Mama, Victorian College of the Arts, Melbourne Fringe, Arts Victoria, Optus and many others.

Michael has built his company on an ethos that prizes flexibility, creativity and originality in the conception and organisation of live events and performance.