Meet the Team: Angel
Ever wonder who’s behind Hive? Meet the people shaping Hive from the inside out!
In this edition of Meet the Team, we’re introducing Angel Lau, our Philanthropy Coordinator and Asia Ambassador. From fostering collaboration across regions to putting together our bi-weekly newsletter, Hive Highlights, Angel brings warmth and creativity to everything she does.
What brought you to Hive?
I first subscribed to the (then) Impactful Animal Advocacy Newsletter and later joined the Hive Slack, but for a long time, I was just a lurker. Things changed when I moved to northern British Columbia for my master’s. I couldn’t find anyone around me who cared about animal advocacy the way I did, and I desperately needed a sense of community. That’s when Hive made all the difference–it became my “digital home” where I could connect, learn, and feel less alone in this work.
What’s something you’ve learned from the Hive community?
I’ve learned the power of community–how connections can lead to collaborations, new projects, and access to opportunities we might never have found on our own. Hive has shown me great generosity from its community members. People freely share what they know, connect others without expecting anything back, and celebrate each other’s progress. This kind of openness not only makes us more effective advocates, it also makes this movement feel deeply human.
What is one local organization you’re excited about that gives you hope for the farmed animal advocacy movement in your region?
Ooo it’s hard to pick just one, but I’d say Welfare Matters. They’re building the next generation of farmed animal advocates in Southeast Asia through their fellowship and incubator programs. Last year, they incubated two groups focused on duck welfare in Indonesia and Vietnam—an issue that’s been largely neglected in our movement. I’m impressed by their dedication to strengthening the regional farmed animal advocacy community in ways that are grounded in local contexts.
What’s one thing in your environment that inspires you or reminds you why you do this work?
Honestly, it’s the people I see on the Hive Slack every day. So many brilliant, kind, and determined advocates from around the world, pouring their energy into helping animals in a world that doesn’t make it easy. Even when the odds feel overwhelming, people still show up, share resources, celebrate each other’s wins, and keep going. Seeing that persistence and solidarity is inspiring to me.
What’s one way you recharge outside of your advocacy work?
I’m actually trying to find new hobbies these days, so send me your recommendations on Slack! For now, a few rituals bring me calm and energy: a daily walk after lunch to visit the neighborhood cat, weekends catching up with friends, and calls with my partner.
Feeling like the chosen one.
If Hive had an official song, what do you think it would be?
Honestly, I stared at this question for a few minutes and even scrolled through the playlist on my phone. If I have to choose, I’d go with Unstoppable by Sia, because “(we’re) so powerful” and “unstoppable today.” 🚀 (And I mean this for not just the Hive team, but the Hive community!)
You’ve been hopping between summits and conferences lately. What’s one ritual, food, or comfort that keeps you grounded while on the road?
A hearty, warm bowl of noodles with soup! I only realized how much I lean on this comfort food when answering this question. Here’s a taste of the kinds of noodles I’ve been having lately, in Taipei (kimchi hotpot), Hong Kong (rice noodles with three toppings of your choice), Vancouver (miso ramen), and Delhi (curry). Is it good that I stick with noodles everywhere I go? Maybe. Maybe not. Do I care? Probably not enough.😄
Through preparing Hive Highlights, you get a front-row seat to what’s happening across the movement. Has there been a story or resource that really stuck with you this year?
One theme that really stood out to me this year is farmed animal advocacy going mainstream. For example, Lewis Bollard at Open Philanthropy gave the first TED talk focused on factory farming; The Daily Show aired a segment on effective altruism highlighting the Shrimp Welfare Project and farmed animal suffering; and over 840 people donated to the match launched during Lewis’s conversation on Dwarkesh Patel’s tech podcast, raising $2M in just two weeks for FarmKind’s Impact Fund. Seeing these stories reach new audiences and inspire concrete support has been incredibly exciting.
One last question: What is your most overused emoji on Slack?
The “slightly smiling face” 🙂. I’ve always used it to mean a friendly smile, although in our team we’ve recently been educated by Kevin that this emoji generally means “passive-aggressive, fake happy” to Gen Z! 👀
That’s Angel
What began as a search for community during her studies has grown into a journey of connection that now spans continents. Angel helps shape Hive into a space where advocates can learn from one another, celebrate small wins, and feel less alone in this work. Guided by empathy, curiosity, and an enduring love of noodles 🍜 Angel continues to strengthen the community spirit of collaboration across Asia and beyond.
Thanks for reading Angel’s story… and stay tuned for more from the Hive team!
Want to stay connected with Hive and meet more of our team?
Join Hive Slack here, and stay up to date on the latest via our bi-weekly newsletter, Hive Highlights.
