Wasia Arshad is a PhD Candidate at the School of Culture, History, and Language in the College of Asia and the Pacific. Her research explores the ethical, cultural, and economic implications of the commodification of medicinal plants. She critically examines how traditional medicinal practices and botanical knowledge are transformed into commercial pharmaceutical products, highlighting the complex dynamics between indigenous communities and local pharmaceutical industries.With a Bachelor's degree in Gender Studies, she has worked with different national and international organisations to address gender issues within communities.