Shaun Christie-David

Shaun Christie-David is a radical restaurateur, social innovator, and founder of the Plate It Forward movement—a bold initiative designed to empower marginalised communities through food. Over the past five years, this movement has created lasting impact by providing employment opportunities to more than 200 individuals from underestimated backgrounds and donating over 560,000 meals to tackle food insecurity, fostering meaningful connections between communities, corporate sponsors, and restaurant patrons.

Shaun draws on his Sri Lankan heritage, combining the exotic flavours of his mother’s cooking with opportunities for asylum seekers and other marginalised groups. This vision led to the creation of Colombo Social, a pioneering social enterprise that blends culinary excellence with social purpose. Since then, he has expanded the brand to include Colombo Social venues in Wynyard and Greenwood Plaza, Kyiv Social, and a large-scale catering and events operation, including running a kitchen for the Sydney Swans.

Before turning to food, Shaun championed representation for First Nations communities by co-creating the Aboriginal Health Television Network, demonstrating his lifelong commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices. Embracing his entrepreneurial and rebellious spirit, he transitioned from the corporate world into a transformative role within social enterprise and hospitality.

Shaun’s work demonstrates how food can unite people, share stories, celebrate cultural diversity, and inspire social change. His innovative approach, passion for community, and ability to transform restaurants into platforms for empowerment make him a compelling speaker and thought leader in social enterprise, culinary innovation, and community impact.