Shaun Christie-David - Co-Founder, PlateitForward & Colombo Social

Shaun Christie-David believes everyone deserves the same opportunities, and he's making it his mission to make that a reality. Over the past 15 years, Shaun has been able to combine his passion and knowledge of social enterprise together with his experience in corporate partnerships and fundraising to drive positive change in marginalised communities.

Shaun was a driving force in the launch of the Aboriginal Health Television Network in partnership with the Australian Federal Government in 2019 – a channel dedicated to improving the health literacy of First Nations people. Shaun has also worked on development of projects that prioritise equalising health education and services, securing partnerships with many leading decision makers in the country including the National Health Service and Macquarie Bank. Shaun has been awarded accolades including the inaugural Time Out's Hospitality Future Shaper, an AMP Tomorrow Maker and a Westpac ChangeMaker as well as the Chief Growth Officer for The Beard Season and is a founding board member for The Dental Truck.

About PlateItForward

“Creating positive impact around the table”

PlateitForward launched in July 2020 as an immediate solution to provide meals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, PlateItForward has evolved into a social enterprise with long term programs that bring marginalised communities together over a meal to create positive and sustainable change. This positive impact can be seen in food donations, employment opportunities and long-term community sustainability. Since 2020, PlateItForward has proudly donated 135,000+ meals, delivered 7,000+ hours of training and employed 32 community members, provided 1,000+ donated Uber trips for newly arrived refugees to attend medical and vaccination appointments and seek housing, and rescued 15 tonnes of food destined for landfill. PlateItForward uses the power of hospitality to create a longterm connection with people that allows them to be connected with the wraparound services they need to have a more equal opportunity.

Alan Jin - COO & Co-Founder | Surreal (FKA Muso)

Alan Jin is the co-founder and COO of Surreal (formerly known as Muso), an Australian based live entertainment software that operates in ANZ & The UK. Prior to founding Surreal, Alan spent time activating brands as part of the experiential team at ClemengerBBDO and touring Australia as part of 4 piece electronic band ‘Otious’.

Beau Neilson - Executive Producer and Creative Director, Phoenix Central Park

Michael Rodrigues - NSW inaugural 24 Hour economy Commissioner

Mike believes in the inspirational power of cities and spends a good amount of time encouraging anyone in his orbit to get out of the house, to know their city and to have more fun.

While working as a lawyer in the Middle East, he spotted an opportunity to launch global lifestyle brand Time Out in Sydney in 2007 to achieve these aims. In 15 years at the helm of Time Out Australia he has grew the brand across print, digital, event and social channels, which now reaches 1,000,000 Australians monthly. He also co-founded the Time Out Bar Awards and the Time Out Food Awards. Time Out’s contribution to our cities was recently recognised in 2020 when Time Out was awarded the Mumbrella Publish Awards Publishing Company of the Year, and Mike himself was awarded Publish Leader of the Year.

Since 2017 and prompted by the challenges facing Sydney's night time economy, Mike has focussed his efforts on aligning and empowering industry to actively engage in the political process in order to effect change. This saw him take a leading role in launching an independent bars association for Sydney in May 2018, followed by the launch of a Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) in November 2018 of which he was the inaugural Chair. The NTIA was at the forefront of the development of the NSW Government strategy for a 24-Hour Economy, and in February Mike was announced as the State of NSW’s first 24 Hour Economy Commissioner, a role that commenced formally on 29 March 2021.

Mike is also co-host of leading hospitality podcast Back of House, a board member of UNSW Art & Design’s advisory council and a board member of Torrens University Hospitality advisory council.