Seven questions with Naveed Khan

This week we meet Naveed, a MSc Global Health & Development student who this month appeared in the

standard.co.uk/news/the1000/the-progress-1000-londons-most-influential-people-2016-equality-champions-a3338116.html" target="_self">London Evening Standard's The Progress 1000 list of London's most influential people 2016.

What are you studying and when do you graduate?

I studied an MSc in Global Health and Development last year and hope to graduate next summer.

Why are you interested in this subject and what do you plan to do in the future?

As a medical student interested in developmental aid work, Global Health and Development was the perfect subject. Global Health helps one step back and out of the consulting room in which they try to assess and treat one patient at a time, and try to solve health problems that could treat whole populations. It is such an inspirational field.

What is the most interesting thing you've done, seen or got involved with while at UCL?

The most interesting thing I got involved with at UCL was the Islamic Society's Charity Week campaign. Not many people know, but UCL holds the world title for raising the most money out of 100s of institutions from across 6 different countries! It is an amazing feat and I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to have been part of it this year. I saw the tireless people behind the scenes, the Islamic Society forms a huge team who work day and night to make it happen.

There was an amazing buzz on campus for the whole week - culminating in the record breaking dinner and auction in the Cruciform where they auctioned a cake for £20,000. Furthermore, what an electric atmosphere it was when we found out that their final record breaking total was £110,000. The generous students had donated not just their time, but opened their pockets wide, and had fun whilst doing it - all in aid of a cause bigger than themselves - to help orphans and needy children around the world.

Have you discovered any hidden gems during your time at UCL?

My studies took me to at least seven different sites across our London campuses, but I think my favourite spot was in the new postgraduate suite in the Science Library. I found this private office like room and it was brand new, out of the way, soundproof, and with tea and coffee facilities right next door - what more do you want?!

Give us your top three things to do/see/go to in London:

• Hire Santander Cycles and just explore!
• Primrose Hill at sunset
• The View at the Shard

If you were Provost for the day what one thing would you do?

Open up all of the hidden rooms and corridors and let everyone explore UCL properly!

Who inspires you and why?

One of the first events I attended at UCL was the annual UCL Lancet Lecture with the guest speaker being Special Adviser to UN Secretary-General and Nigerian Environment Minister; Amina J. Mohammed.

As we listened we heard more about her career journey, her resilience, her determination - and what really blew me away - her family life with all of six children. She worked passionately in the field that she loved, balanced it with everything else in life, and had also achieved an incredible amount in her life. What an inspiration.

What would it surprise people to know about you?

I actually came to UCL for an open day before my undergraduate degree and disliked it so much I didn't even apply! However, when I started studying elsewhere in London and made friends from UCL they slowly pulled me in…and before I knew it there was nowhere else I wanted to do my postgraduate studies!