Richard's Most Memorable Guests — Shaun Christie David

Conversations is bringing you a summer treat — a collection of Richard's most memorable guests through out the years.

Shaun Christie David grew up eating the Sri-Lankan recipes his mother brought with her from Sri Lanka. After a life-change trip to his parent's homeland, Shaun left a successful career in finance to open a social enterprise restaurant, Colombo Social, giving jons to refugees and serving food from his mother's cookbook. 

Shaun Christie-David's family migrated to Australia during the Sri Lankan civil war.

The family's three sons grew up in a house full of home-cooked food and love, with dishes like 48-hour Mudcrab on the menu at Christmas.

In 2019, Shaun set up Colombo Social, a restaurant giving jobs to refugees and people seeking asylum, serving food straight from his mum's cookbook.

Starting the restaurant was a sharp turn in his own life.

Shaun had left Sydney's Western suburbs at 18 determined to make a lot of money in the finance world. 

But at 28, at the pinnacle of his career in banking, a trip to Sri Lanka changed everything.

This episode of Conversations contains discussions about immigration, migrants, Sri Lanka, multiculturalism, childhood memories, cooking, family, mothers, fathers, sons, siblings, brothers, high school, racism, finance, success, money, careers, mudcrabs, Christmas, chicken biryani, spices, recipes, traditions, culture, Sri Lankans, restaurants, social enterprise, charity, refugees, asylum seekers, support, disabilities, homelessness, unemployment, support, Plate It Forward, Colombo Social, Kabul Social, Sydney, NSW, Afganistan, Ukraine, purpose, giving.