Dua Khan

Dua Khan is a second-year law student at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Civil Law. This year, she is serving as Vice-President of Community Affairs for the Philanthropy Committee, where she hopes to organize meaningful fundraising initiatives and contribute to positive change in her community.

She has a particular interest in advocating for those whose voices are often overlooked and supporting marginalized communities. She is also deeply passionate about mental health, particularly the reality that many people struggle in silence and lack access to the support and resources they need. Improving access to mental health services and resources is therefore a cause that is very important to her. As Event Coordinator for the Youth for Justice Association, Dua has organized initiatives that connect awareness with action, including a thrifting event highlighting the environmental impact of fast fashion and its effects on Ghana, as well as a chocolate sale featuring local brands to raise awareness about child labour within the cocoa industry in Côte d’Ivoire.

Originally from Montreal, Dua speaks English, French, and Urdu. She completed her DEC in Law and Society at Vanier College, where she developed a strong desire to pursue a career dedicated to advocating for individuals and communities who are too often ignored. For Dua, the Observatory represents a unique and meaningful opportunity to work alongside like-minded individuals and turn shared values into concrete action.

As the daughter of first-generation Pakistani parents, Dua grew up witnessing firsthand the sacrifices and challenges her parents faced in building a life for their family. Their experiences taught her from a young age that she did not want to simply wait for change—she wanted to be part of creating it.