Our Team

The Culture Exchange is led by Shankar Kasynathan who comes with extensive lived experience of working at the intersection of community life, institutions and social change.

Arriving in Australia as a Tamil refugee, Shankar’s earliest experiences taught him the importance of belonging and the role communities can play in shaping people’s lives. He has since worked across local government, public health, multicultural affairs, homelessness, education and community development. From grassroots organising to advising governments and serving as a Victorian Multicultural Commissioner and an Expert Adviser to the Australian Human Rights Commission on anti-racism education.

What distinguishes Shankar is his ability to move between these different worlds. He understands institutions and policy, but also knows that meaningful change rarely begins with policy alone. His work has consistently focused on bringing people together, building relationships and creating opportunities for communities to influence the systems and decisions that affect them.