In this powerful episode of Uncommon Ground, Professor Talal Yassine sits down with Shaun Christie-David, a social enterprise leader, restaurateur, and the founder of Colombo Social, Kabul Social, Kyiv Social, and the Plate It Forward Foundation.

From his humble beginnings in Western Sydney to launching some of Australia's most socially impactful dining venues, Shaun is reshaping what hospitality means. His mission? Use food as a force for good, creating jobs for people from refugee and asylum-seeking backgrounds, and delivering over 750,000 meals to those in need.

Shaun’s story is equal parts rage and resilience, from enduring racism in the corporate world to building businesses that fight injustice and feed hope. He opens up about his Sri Lankan roots, his parents’ migrant struggles, and why migrant women, ex-offenders, and people from disadvantaged communities deserve more than charity, they deserve opportunity.

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Episode Running Order

•  Intro — who is Shaun Christie-David and why his story matters (00:00)
  • Childhood in Fairfield & memories of early mischief and innocence (01:05)
  • Family dynamics — growing up the youngest of three Sri Lankan brothers (02:07)
  • School years — selective school entry, avoiding trouble & chasing opportunity (03:32)
  • Parents’ migration from Sri Lanka & sacrifices for a better life (04:57)
  • Dad’s career shift — from engineer to mobile mechanic in Australia (06:36)
  • Life at Holsworthy Ag High — navigating identity in elite academic spaces (08:39)
  • The turning point — how one teacher changed Shaun’s path (13:25)
  • University life — failing subjects, partying, and discovering purpose (16:54)
  • Why finance? — the Martin Place moment & chasing the suit-and-tie dream (17:41)
  • Early career in finance — process automation & questioning the status quo (20:29)
  • Experiencing casual racism in corporate Australia — from “Tamil Tiger” to “wrong side of the bridge” (28:16)
  • The call that changed everything — leaving finance after an Obama slur (34:04)
  • The ex-girlfriend’s mum story — racism in the home & drawing hard lines (40:07)
  • Returning to Sri Lanka — realizing his privilege & finding a new mission (48:04)
  • Founding Colombo Social — creating fusion food & a social impact model (51:47)
  • Why food? — the universal language that brings people together (53:29)
  • COVID pivot — launching Plate It Forward & 750,000+ donated meals (55:24)
  • Food insecurity in Australia — now worse than during the pandemic (56:42)
  • How the model works — restaurants, catering, and the Plate It Forward Foundation (58:06)
  • Funding the movement — 95% of donations from Shaun’s hospitality businesses (59:09)
  • The workforce model — 85% of staff from marginalized communities (1:01:45)
  • Launchpad — helping migrant women start their own food businesses (1:09:20)
  • Can Shaun cook? — decoding flavor without being a chef (1:06:01)
  • The future — endowment models, sustainability & replicating community care (1:11:32)
  • Quick-fire questions — misconceptions, guilty pleasures & defining conversations (1:13:53)
  • Closing reflections & outro (1:15:30)