ABOUT US

Creating space for
shared understanding.

"A future where cultural stories are more widely shared and celebrated."

CULTURAL STORIES
Cultural stories shared and celebrated.
OUR MISSION & PURPOSE

Connecting communities
through culture.

Our mission is to enable communities and individuals to connect through culture, from art, sound and literature to food, fashion and storytelling, giving people a way to encounter and understand perspectives beyond their own.

Shremaya Foundation stands for a future where cultural stories are more widely shared and celebrated. We believe in the power of creative expression to deepen cultural understanding, bring communities together and create more meaningful exchange across difference.

OUR VISION

Our vision.

Like different threads coming together to form a garment, Australia’s cultural identity is shaped by many backgrounds, traditions, faiths and ways of life. Shremaya Foundation’s vision is to help cultural stories deepen understanding and reveal the wider story of who we are as a nation.

01 / Visibility
Community cultural festival

Supporting cultural visibility.

Creating more opportunities for cultural stories, traditions and creative practices to be seen, shared and celebrated.

02 / Identity
Community cultural festival

Shaping shared identity.

Supporting a richer understanding of who we are as Australians, shaped by many cultures, histories and lived experiences.

03 / Generations
Theatre performance

Inspiring future generations.

Helping preserve cultural knowledge so it can continue to inform, inspire and connect future communities.

Founder quote

“Every culture carries stories that deserve to be seen, heard and celebrated.”

“Shremaya Foundation was created to help those stories become a bridge between people, strengthening understanding and connection across communities.”

— Nim and Sonia Rutnam, Co-founders

Our founders
Foundation Founders
Sonia and Nim Rutnam, Co-founders
OUR STORY

Born from a belief in the power of culture.

Culture can help people understand one another more deeply. Shremaya Foundation was built on a belief that culture is something people carry, share and pass on through stories, creative practices, tradition and lived experience.

Our founders, Sonia and Nim Rutnam, recognised the power of the arts as a way to bring people into cultural conversation. They are committed to enabling cultural expression through programs, partnerships, funding pathways and auspicing support, creating opportunities for artists to be seen, heard, understood and celebrated.

Our board

Meet our board.

Sonia Rutnam
Co-founder & Director

Sonia Rutnam

Sonia brings a blend of leadership, governance and community experience to Shremaya. Her career has taken her from international work with KPMG to senior executive and advisory roles, alongside her involvement in the not-for-profit sector. As former Chair of Carers Australia, Sonia brings a strong understanding of advocacy and the importance of building communities where people feel seen and supported.

Nim Rutnam
Co-founder & Director

Nim Rutnam

Nim brings a legal and governance background to Shremaya, shaped by more than 20 years as a corporate and commercial lawyer. His experience spans private practice, in-house corporate roles, government advisory work and not-for-profit boards. Along with a long-standing commitment to culture and community, Nim brings both strategic rigour and personal passion to Shremaya’s mission.

Vicky Lissa
Director

Vicky Lissa

Vicky brings decades of financial, governance and community support experience to Shremaya. A public accountant for more than 40 years, she currently practises through Lissa Advisory Group Pty Limited and is also a Justice of the Peace. Her previous involvement with the not-for-profit organisation Together for Humanity, along with her counselling studies and seven years as a Lifeline counsellor, reflects her commitment to supporting others and contributing to community wellbeing.

Connect through cultural stories

A donation. A partnership. An idea.
Your involvement could help connect communities through culture.

Shremaya Foundation acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.


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