Indian PhD student Ms Saba Nabi has embraced university life in Australia becoming the first international student elected to the governing body of Charles Sturt University (CSU).

 

A first year PhD student, Ms Nabi has been elected to represent the CSU student body on the University Council.

 

The Council is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the University, ensuring accountability from the management of the University and maintaining and extending free academic inquiry and discourse.

 

While many would consider adjusting to life and study in a new country a challenge in itself, Ms Nabi has been proactive in pursuing her long-standing passion for student representation.

 

Less than a year after beginning her study at CSU in Wagga Wagga she is the postgraduate student representative on the Science Faculty Board and has been elected to the University Council.

 

“I’m pleased to have the opportunity to represent the students and to build closer relationships with the University’s faculty and management,” Ms Nabi said.

 

“I’ve been involved in student representation since my school days,” she said. “In India students are very active and I hope to encourage this among students at Charles Sturt University. I would like to see students become more confident in expressing their views and for them to participate in more areas outside of academic study.”

 

Ms Nabi moved to Wagga Wagga in 2011 with her husband, who is also a PhD student at CSU, and her young daughter.

 

Ms Nabi’s research through CSU’s School of Biomedical Sciences is examining risk management in the Australian Pharmaceutical Industry.

 

She completed a Bachelor of Pharmacy in 2006 and a Master of Business Administration (Pharmaceutical Administration) in 2008 at Jamia Hamdard University, New Delhi, India. 

 

During that time she was the Joint Secretary of Academic/Literary Committee at the university and was also a member of the National Service Scheme (NSS) which works for the empowerment of women and under-privileged sections of Indian society. 

 

Ms Nabi has also worked as a business development executive in a pharmaceutical multi-national corporation.