The Contributors

Annabel Karmel MBE is a modern-day “mamapreneur” – juggling life as a busy working mother of three with a hugely successful career. Since launching her Complete Baby and Toddler Meal Planner more than 20 years ago, Annabel has written 40 books, which have sold over four million copies worldwide, covering every stage of a child’s development.

Danielle Roberts is a Canadian writer and ESL kindergarten teacher who has called Hong Kong home since 2015. She is an avid runner, a voracious reader, metalhead, and cat-lover. You can follow her on social media through her website: www.danielle-roberts.com

Melissa comes from a British family with roots in China, Malaysia and Italy – and continues the family passion for growing, cooking and eating food. She has spent the last few years eating her way through over 25 countries, before landing in the food paradise of Hong Kong.

She’s the founder of the city’s “Munchkins” business and brings over 15 years of combined cooking, learning and development experience to the “Fragrant Harbour” – where she can be found working with community gardeners, school kitchens and exploring farms with families.

Nikita Mishra is a health and lifestyle journalist with over a decade of experience spanning across India’s leading English news channel, CNN-IBN and digital news platform, The Quint. She was the founding Health and Lifestyle Editor at The Quint, before trading her cosy life for the charms of Hong Kong. A skilled wordsmith, she’s currently dipping her tippy toes in the world of communications and digital marketing. When not working behind her MacBook, you’ll find her on a faraway hike or planning her next meal. Lover of all things sparkly, she spends her evenings organising pretend tea-parties with her littles.

Esther is the co-founder and head trainer of Aqua Terra Performance, a boutique studio in Stanley that focuses on strength and conditioning for women. She is a certified personal trainer and pre and postnatal coach. She loves the water and is also an AUSTSWIM swimming instructor, qualified lifeguard and Stand Up Paddleboarding instructor.

Talia is the founder of Circular Wellness – a platform for all things pro planet, animal rights, and health and wellness. After recently becoming a mum, she is also passionate about motherhood and is always looking to help other mamas along their journey. With a lust for life, you can usually find her strolling around Hong Kong with her little one.

Claire is a proud Hong Konger, a mother of 2, and the founder of The Lion Rock Press. She grew up between two cultures, having a HK Chinese mother and a English Brummie father. She draws on those influences every day in the running of her premium stationery and gift company.

Lauren Lin, Co-Founder of PIVOT, is a mother of three who is constantly inspired by the amazing women she meets in Hong Kong. She has over ten years of experience in partner marketing, public relations and marketing management. Her experience in the Hospitality sector includes tenure at the Five Star/Five Diamond Wynn & Encore Resort and Boyd Gaming Corporation. In 2012, she joined an early stage social mobile app startup, PlayStudios, which sparked her entrepreneurial spirit. After moving to Hong Kong in 2015 she wanted to follow her passion for connecting people and entrepreneurship, resulting in PIVOT. She has a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and International Business certificate from Arizona State University.

Jen is a lover of the English language. Her constant bedside companion is the writing manual “Elements of Style”, her favourite word is defenestration and she has a weakness for any text by Oscar Wilde. Jen studied literature at Princeton, but took a detour via a Salestrading career and a Fundraising role, only to recently return to writing. When she is not waxing lyrical, Jen volunteers at Asian Charity Services. She is currently pursuing an MFA at Hong Kong University. Her writings can be found at www.jenniferwannenmacher.com.

Nerice’s pursuit of higher education and work has taken her from Curacao (Dutch Caribbean) to The Netherlands and England. In 2017, as a new mother, she moved with her husband and their 6-month-old baby to Hong Kong. The lessons she learned about how life events such as relocations and motherhood can impact a woman’s career led to her setting up The Career Lounge: a career coaching practice that supports clients to navigate their careers through life transitions including becoming a parent and changing careers. Her weekends are sacred for family time and you can find her and her gang doing anything from hanging out with friends, camping or simply lounging around and enjoying some screen time together.

Cecily’s passion in life is sport, and in particular, championing women and girls or all ages through sport. She works with WISE HK (Women In Sports Empowered HK) and organises events that empower women and girls to lead active, meaningful and self-fulfilled lives. She also hosts a podcast In The Changing Room in which she interviews women involved in sport about how sport makes them, them. Cecily also loves hiking, playing football and finding a good happy hour!

Asmita is a passionate cook and food photographer whose blog “OneWholesomeMeal” strives to bring back faith in real food. A busy mum to two demanding eaters, she is constantly striving to put together simple, yet healthy meals for the family. Her recipes are an interesting twist of Indian, Western and Asian. She truly believes that everyone can cook and with just a little planning and intent, nutritious, homemade meals are possible.

Rosie is a Registered Midwife and qualified Lactation Consultant working with Annerley: the midwives clinic (part of OT&P Healthcare). Originally trained in London – Rosie swapped the UK capital for the more humid climes of Hong Kong in 2016 and hasn’t looked back since! As a passionate advocate for informed choice and women-centred care, most of her time is spent running antenatal clinics, classes and postnatal home visits for new parents and parents-to-be.

Obsessed with beautiful interiors and historical architecture, Hannah has been designing interiors and developing properties for several years now as well as teaching writing here in Hong Kong. Originally from the UK, Hannah moved here with her now-husband, Spanish vet, Angel, 8 years ago and lives on Lamma Island. Hannah loves brunching, paddling, painting and junking as well as seeking out the hidden gems of Hong Kong. You can follow her property development on Instagram @whatsontheinsidecounts.

British born Sophie is a new resident to Hong Kong and a new first-time mum. Obsessed with fitness, cats and cocktails, she’s always on the hunt for a clever way to combine the three! With a background in PR, she’s also a brand and trend junkie always looking to try the next big thing.