Hi, I’m Nisreen Akolawala.
Multicultural Communications Consultant | Cultural Storyteller | Travel Designer | Founder, Soul Indian Journeys
Helping organisations and travellers connect across cultures through communication, storytelling and meaningful experiences
I’m a multicultural communications consultant, cultural storyteller, travel designer and founder of Soul Indian Journeys.
I help organisations, communities and travellers connect more meaningfully across cultures through communication, storytelling and shared experiences.
My work brings together an uncommon mix of expertise across multicultural communications, community engagement, health campaigns, content strategy, cultural tourism, architecture, art and travel.
At its core, everything I do is about helping people better understand one another.
A Life Lived Across Cultures
I was born in Kenya, educated in India and now call Australia home.
Living across continents, cultures and communities has shaped the way I see the world.
It taught me early that culture influences everything. How we communicate. How we build trust. How we tell stories. How we connect with people who are different from ourselves.
These experiences continue to influence both my work and the way I move through the world.
Today, I bring a genuinely global perspective combined with lived experience of migration, identity, belonging and multicultural Australia.
From Architecture to Communication
My professional journey began in architecture.
While architecture and communications may seem worlds apart, both disciplines begin with the same question:
How do people experience the world around them?
Architecture taught me to think strategically, pay attention to detail, understand context and design with people in mind.
Those same skills now shape how I approach communication, audience engagement, content strategy and storytelling.
The tools may have changed, but the focus on people has remained the same.
What I Do Today
Over the past decade, I’ve worked across government, health, not-for-profit, tourism and community sectors, helping organisations communicate with clarity, empathy and cultural awareness.
My work has included:
• Multicultural communications and community engagement
• Health and social impact campaigns
• Content strategy and storytelling
• Audience research and insights
• Community-centred communication
• Travel and tourism content
• Cultural tourism product development
• Stakeholder engagement
• Plain English communication
I am particularly passionate about helping organisations engage culturally diverse communities in ways that are respectful, inclusive and genuinely effective.
Beyond the Tourist Trail
Travel has always been one of my greatest teachers.
Not because of the places I’ve visited, but because of the people I’ve met along the way.
Over the years, I’ve stayed with artisan communities in remote India, spent time in villages across the Himalayas, travelled through East Africa, explored ancient cities and modern capitals, and sought out experiences that offer a deeper understanding of local culture and everyday life.
These experiences taught me something that guides both my work and my travels:
The most meaningful connections happen when we move beyond observation and into understanding.
This belief eventually led me to create Soul Indian Journeys.
Founder of Soul Indian Journeys
Soul Indian Journeys was created for travellers who want more than a checklist of attractions.
I design cultural journeys that explore India’s living traditions through textiles, food, architecture, heritage, artisans and local communities.
My aim is to help travellers experience the depth, creativity and diversity of India in a way that feels personal, respectful and memorable.
The India I share is one shaped by lived experience, local knowledge and genuine relationships.
Areas of Interest
My work and writing often explore:
• Multicultural communication
• Community engagement
• Culture and identity
• Migration and belonging
• Cultural tourism
• India’s textile traditions
• Creativity and lifelong learning
• Women’s stories and lived experiences
• Art, design and visual storytelling
Interested in working together? Explore my services and areas of expertise here
When I’m Not Working
You’ll usually find me planning a journey, exploring a local gallery, sketching, photographing everyday moments, wandering through a market, discovering a hidden café or encouraging my children to stay curious about the world around them.
I’m equally happy discussing communication strategy, artisan textiles, architecture, travel, culture, creativity or where to find the best local food.
What You’ll Find Here
This space is a collection of ideas, stories, observations and experiences gathered across cultures, careers, countries and stages of life.
It’s where my professional expertise meets personal curiosity.
You’ll find reflections on communication, culture, travel, creativity, motherhood, identity and the many ways people make sense of the world around them.
If those topics resonate with you, you’re in the right place.
Welcome.
Nisreen Akolawala 