Our Team
Steph Ng Founder & Executive Director
Steph founded Body Banter in 2016 after realizing the powerful role that discussion and advocacy played in her own eating disorder recovery journey. Through providing opportunities for community-building, advocacy and open discussion, she hopes that Body Banter can amplify the voices of individuals and empower them to be the driving forces behind creating a more accepting and accommodating world.
Her fascination with the relationship between language and mental health has led her to her current PhD studies in a joint program between the University of Hong Kong and local mental health charity Mind HK, where she is exploring how cultural context and conversations shape the ways we view mental health issues in our community.
Her work is internationally recognized, and has been featured on media platforms such as BBC, Channel NewsAsia, NowTV, and Deutsche Welle.
Natalie Lui Program Director
Natalie joined Body Banter in 2019 because she strongly believes in the power of openly sharing thoughts, feelings and experiences as a way to achieve self-growth. She strives to build confidence and resilience in other individuals as they find their voices in open conversation, just as Body Banter has helped build hers.
She oversees our Advocacy Mentorship Program and Internship Program, delivers workshops and talks, and facilitates collaborations with our partners. Additionally, she mentors our Conversation Community leaders by helping them strengthen their peer support skills.
She previously served as the Managing Editor of UBC’s Undergraduate Journal of Psychology, and as a research assistant at UBC’s Social Health Lab investigating the health effects of prosocial behavior.
Sonal Govila Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Director
Having lived and grown in communities of individuals with diverse identities and experiences, Sonal joined Body Banter in 2020 to engage in and create room for conversations that take into account the lived experiences of individuals with varied gender identities, sexual orientations, ethnicities, disabilities, etc. She is passionate about conversations around how to be at peace with ourselves and our bodies as we exist, while discussing the racist, capitalistic, and patriarchal systems invested in diverting us from this aim.
As our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Director, she works alongside the team to ensure that we cultivate an inclusive, liberating, anti-oppressive, and anti-racist environment for all stakeholders. She also works to ensure that DEI is centred in our programs and organisational plans.
Ashley Hsu Multimedia Production Director
Ashley joined Body Banter in 2020 because she is passionate about using different forms of art and media to convey stories and messages of body positivity and mental health advocacy.
As the head of the our multimedia resources on our Community Corner, Ashley mentors Banter-bassadors who are working on visual media resources. She devises strategies and provides periodic feedback on ways to increase our social media presence, and oversees Banter-bassador projects related to video production.
Certified in Meditation and Pranayama (100 hours YTT), the International Yoga Alliance
Certified in 8 Week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Program (MBSR) with Ralitsa Ivanova, accredited MBSR Teacher from Mindful Academy Solterreno
Certified in Transcendental Meditation, The Maharishi Foundation Hong Kong Limited
Certified in Primordial Sound Meditation, the Chopra Centre
MSc in Art, Law & Business, Christie’s Education, London
BA in Political Science & Art History, Barnard College of Columbia University
Yinki Wong Wellbeing Director
Yinki joined Body Banter in 2020 because she wholeheartedly believes in the power of holistic healing. She mentors our youth advocates who are interested in expanding their wellness knowledge, and developing resources that promote mindfulness. She also creates guided meditations and hosts workshops using mindfulness techniques to reduce stress, anxiety and tension. Ultimately, she strives to create a cultural sea change in amplifying kindness, awareness, resilience, mindfulness, and authenticity.