Shaun Christie-David - Hire Keynote and Guest Speaker

Shaun Christie-David

Founder & chief executive officer of Plate It Forward hospitality group

Shaun Christie-David overcame barriers as a refugee migrant, facing racism and the echoes of Sri Lanka’s civil war, which left traditional success models unfulfilling.

Through empathy, education, and a community-minded spirit, he founded Plate It Forward, a social enterprise blending high-quality dining with purpose, employing 200+ from marginalised communities and donating 650,000 meals to date.

Shaun proves employment barriers can be dismantled with an intelligent workforce, embedding deep change in a successful business.

Using humour to tackle social issues, he leaves audiences activated and inspired, showing impact can start with a beer.

His corporate experience ensures he understands clients’ needs for performance and retention.

Shaun Christie-David Book as a speaker/entertainer for your next event

Key Points for Shaun Christie-David

Featured on Australian Story and at SXSW Sydney, Shaun Christie-David inspires audiences with his heartfelt storytelling and practical social enterprise strategies.
Shaun’s awards include the 2024 NSW Governor General’s Humanitarian Award, 2024 TimeOut Sydney’s Future Shaper, 2023 EY Social Entrepreneur of the Year, and more, showcasing his impact.
Working with clients like the Sydney Swans, Netflix, Mirvac, and Commonwealth Bank, Shaun offers insights on purpose-driven leadership.
Shaun Christie-David founded Plate It Forward, employing 250+ from marginalised communities and donating 650K meals to date, blending high-quality dining with social impact.

Topics for Shaun Christie-David

From finance to food: Building a social enterprise with heart
Shaun shares his journey from banking to founding Plate It Forward, creating four restaurants that employ refugees, immigrants, and formerly incarcerated individuals, fostering cultural connections. This talk inspires audiences with actionable insights on launching purpose-driven businesses that prioritise impact and community over profit.
Breaking barriers: Leading with kindness to create equality
Shaun extols the power of compassionate leadership, employing 250+ underrepresented individuals—refugees, migrant women, and formerly incarcerated people—offering them opportunities through skill development. This presentation shares practical strategies for building inclusive workplaces that champion equality and transform lives for generations
Feeding communities: Lessons in empathy and impact
Shaun recounts how Plate It Forward has donated 650,000 meals since 2020, now feeding 3,000 people weekly in Sydney and globally, supporting First Nations communities, refugees, and more. Attendees learn strategies for using empathy to drive community support and create lasting impact, one meal at a time.
Turning adversity into action: Leading with purpose
Honoured with awards like the 2024 NSW Governor General’s Humanitarian Award, Shaun inspires audiences to transform challenges into meaningful change through purpose-driven leadership. Drawing on his experiences, he shares how to build resilient, impact-focused organisations that unite communities and drive social good.

Testimonials for Shaun Christie-David

Shaun is without doubt one of the greatest storytellers of our generation. His lived experience and focus on empathy, integrity and authenticity makes him a captivating speaker and evokes so much emotion from the audience – whether that be laughter, tears, or more importantly; motivation to make impactful change.
Uber

Shaun Christie-David, a proud UTS alumnus, delivered an inspiring commencement address to our new graduates, captivating them with his journey from finance to founding Plate It Forward, and showing how food can unite communities and drive social change. His heartfelt storytelling and practical insights left our graduates motivated to make a meaningful impact, reflecting the values of innovation and purpose that UTS instilled in him.
UTS

Shaun’s authentic vulnerability really hits you in the heartstrings, he is an impressive role model of powerful intention.
SXSW