About

#
Teamsassy

What do our readers and our team have in common? We’ve all fallen in love with the taxi-clogged, dai pai dong-lined, crazy skyscraper city of Hong Kong. Whether we were born and raised here, or arrived as adults, our appetites for all things Hong Kong are insatiable!

We’re here to inject a bit of sass into your day-to-day and help you navigate this buzzing metropolis…make the most out of life in the city that truly never sleeps! From swanky bars with a view, to hole-in-the-wall eateries, to fail-safe shopping spots, to our favourite hikes, we scour the streets to find all the very best that Hong Kong has to offer (in our humble opinions!).

  • The team
  • The contributors

MAURA THOMPSON

CO-FOUNDER
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EMILIE DE CANNART

CEO
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HALEY HERBST

MANAGING DIRECTOR
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ELLY LIU

OFFICE MANAGER
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STEF SHIU

MANAGING EDITOR
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ANNA LENTCHNER

EDITOR
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JESSICA YIM

EDITOR
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RAVEENA RAGHUNATH

EDITORIAL COORDINATOR
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GRACE MA

CREATIVE & SOCIAL LEAD
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MEGAN JOHNSTON

DIGITAL MARKETING COORDINATOR
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EMILY CHU

PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER
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JOWELL SHEK

PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER
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IRA DARAGNEZ

CLIENT ENGAGEMENT MANAGER
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SARAH BUCKELL

PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER
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MAURA THOMPSON
CO-FOUNDER

I’m originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (USA) and have called Hong Kong home since 2008. I have loved seeing Sassy grow over the years and I am so thankful that we have such an awesome team who are always ready and willing to try things for the sake of Sassy. We have a term around the office called #diditforsassy and over the years I have definitely done that. From Brazilian wax trials, to getting spray tanned at home in my bikini for a YouTube video (the video doesn’t exist anymore, thank goodness!), to letting our readers vote on what hairstyle I should get (they voted for a fringe and I did go through with it!).

These days, I’m obsessed with one day building the perfect capsule collection and would finish every day if I could with a 45-minute Aqua Luna sail around the harbour before heading home.

What I love about Hong Kong

Foot massages. Being able to easily do a hike, beach trip and city drinks all in one day. The beautiful pastel colours on the apartment buildings (you just have to look up to appreciate them!).

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EMILIE DE CANNART
CEO

Emilie is the CEO of Sassy Media Group. She is originally from Belgium but has spent the last twenty years in Asia. After finishing her MA in Chinese Studies in London, she left for Beijing to pursue her studies of Mandarin, got her first job in Hong Kong, lived in Tokyo for a year before heading back to Hong Kong and in 2011 moved to Singapore with her family. She is the proud mother of two (Josephine and Adrian). In between work, meetings and school pickups she dreams of exotic holidays and grasses matinees…

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HALEY HERBST
MANAGING DIRECTOR

Originally hailing from the States. Haley likes to stay up to date on the dining scene in the 852 and is always seeking out the hidden gems of Hong Kong. When not at work she is either in the pottery studio or finding dog friendly dining destinations with her dog, Oliver.

What I love about Hong Kong

Hong Kong is the best of both worlds. I can spend the day exploring the beautiful beaches of Sai Kung during the day and be back in the city by night having dinner and drinks at a Michelin starred restaurant in the middle of the city.

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ELLY LIU
OFFICE MANAGER

I was born and raised in China, and moved to Hong Kong in 2013. I’m a huge fan of wildlife, the outdoors and pandas (I can spend an entire day watching videos of pandas eating bamboo). Living in Hong Kong lets me enjoy eating endless dim sum, taking in the gorgeous harbour views and being a part of team Sassy.

What I love about Hong Kong

How easy it is to travel to nearby countries, hiking trails and the incredible theme parks!

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STEF SHIU
MANAGING EDITOR

Raised in Hong Kong, Stef has called the 852 home for most of her life, with the exception of a few years in Australia. With nearly two decades of lifestyle editorial experience under her belt, her favourite things to write about are food, travel, wellness and people. When not dreaming up her next escape she can be found striking a balance between yoga/gym and stuffing her face with cake.

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ANNA LENTCHNER
EDITOR

After living in seven different cities, Anna recently returned to the 852 and is reacquainting herself with the city’s ever-changing neighbourhoods. She is especially passionate about sexual health and politics, and is enjoying exploring Hong Kong's burgeoning queer scene.

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JESSICA YIM
EDITOR

After moving to the 852 three years ago from the UK, Jessica has been on a quest to discover the city through her own lens and can often be found hunting down the best oat milk matcha lattes and streetwear gems. Having lived in multiple countries, she enjoys the luxury of spending time with her family in Hong Kong. She’s also extraordinarily gifted at spending her paycheck on skincare and makeup, as well as watching YouTube and documentaries until the early hours of the morning.

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RAVEENA RAGHUNATH
EDITORIAL COORDINATOR

Veena was born and raised in Hong Kong and (after IB in Thailand and Uni in the UK) has now returned after 10 years abroad. While she reacquaints herself with the city, you’ll find her scouring the streets searching for affordable sushi and cafes serving Oat Milk Mochas, scribbling down random pieces of poetry and dialogue for her future novel, binge-watching tv shows like she has nothing better to do, and discovering all the ways HK has changed in the last decade.

Her work encompasses both Sassy and Sassy Mama and she loves that she gets to dabble in everything possible until she finds what she’s most passionate about (it will probably be food-related!).

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GRACE MA
CREATIVE & SOCIAL LEAD

Born and raised in 852, Grace is a creative soul with a passion for art, fashion and hunting for some good coffee! She expresses herself through painting and photography, always appreciating beauty in her surroundings. During her free time, she enjoys reading with a cup of coffee in hand.

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MEGAN JOHNSTON
DIGITAL MARKETING COORDINATOR

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Megan is a self professed film, fashion and foodie fanantic who loves to explore everything the city has to offer, from hiking hidden trails to finding the best happy hour deals in town. On her days off you'll often find her chilling at the beach, coconut in hand with her dog Riley or planning her next tropical holiday.

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EMILY CHU
PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER

Born and raised in the UK, Emily moved to Hong Kong in 2011 in a quest to learn more about her roots and heritage. She loves to cook and can often be found in her local wet markets seeking out fresh produce for her culinary creations. When not obsessing about her next meal, she enjoys hiking, board games and finding new ways to burn calories. Emily focuses on partnerships with Sassy.

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JOWELL SHEK
PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER

Born and raised in the 852, Jowell is a proud purebred Hongkie. After hotel school, she served smiles through the skies as a flight attendant, landed in venture investment and the glitz and glamour of the luxury industry, before finding her way to Sassy. Off the clock, you can catch her obsessing over cute hamster videos, perfecting her downward dog at yoga, at a modelling gig, or on her quest in search of the best fish siumais in town.

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IRA DARAGNEZ
CLIENT ENGAGEMENT MANAGER

Ira is originally from the Philippines, but is a Hong Kong Mom at heart! She moved for work with a single luggage and stayed for more than 14 years and had her family here. Her background is in design, used to work as a designer, became a stay at home mom and now found her way to Team Sassy. When she’s not emailing partners for briefs and previews, she’s either creating a DIY project, checking out activities in HK with her kids or organising playdates and parties!

What I love about Hong Kong

#HomeKong is where she got married and gave birth to her two girls. She loves how international and accessible the city is. Not to mention how easy it is to organise play dates for her kids!

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SARAH BUCKELL
PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER

With roots in the Philippines and the UK, Sarah proudly calls 852 home. Her career has been a journey of curiosity, from e-commerce start-ups to the fast-paced world of insurance, before finding her perfect fit at Sassy. When not working, you’ll likely catch her exploring Hong Kong’s best eats, hiking its scenic trails or daydreaming about her next holiday.

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