When Shaun Christie-David, the proud son of Sri Lankan immigrants to Australia, set out to redefine the hospitality industry, he had a simple yet profound mission: intertwining delicious food with powerful social impact. His social enterprise, Plate It Forward, goes beyond serving delectable dishes to creating job opportunities and supporting marginalized communities in Australia. Through a unique “pay it forward” model, Plate It Forward uses the universal language of food to foster inclusivity, empowerment, and change.
When Shaun Christie-David, the proud son of Sri Lankan immigrants to Australia, set out to redefine the hospitality industry, he had a simple yet profound mission: intertwining delicious food with powerful social impact. His social enterprise, Plate It Forward, goes beyond serving delectable dishes to creating job opportunities and supporting marginalized communities in Australia. Through a unique “pay it forward” model, Plate It Forward uses the universal language of food to foster inclusivity, empowerment, and change.
At 28, a transformative trip to Sri Lanka clarified his purpose. “Witnessing the stark difference in the quality of life between Australia and Sri Lanka, I realized how lucky I was to win a birth lottery I hadn’t even entered,” he recalled. However, understanding the “why” of his mission was only half the journey—figuring out the “how” took time. Food, deeply rooted in his Sri Lankan heritage, became the vehicle for change. Inspired by his mother’s cooking, the sense of belonging it provided, and the profound impact of food on community and identity, Christie-David decided to create a social enterprise harnessing the power of food to foster inclusivity and support marginalized communities.
