Professor Emiliana Vegas

Professor Emiliana Vegas is a trailblazing educator, researcher, and development leader, dedicated to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in education worldwide. A firm believer in the power of learning to drive social change, Emiliana has spent her distinguished career working to transform educational opportunities for disadvantaged children across low- and middle-income countries. Born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, she now splits her time between Cambridge, Washington, and Naples, drawing from a truly global perspective to inspire systemic improvements that prioritise equity, accessibility, and inclusion for all learners.

Throughout her impressive career, Emiliana has held numerous influential roles, including Professor of Practice at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, Director of the Education Policy Lab for Latin America, and Faculty Affiliate at the Harvard Center for International Development. Prior to joining Harvard, she served as Senior Fellow and Co-Director of the Center for Universal Education at the Brookings Institution, where she shaped global policy debates around educational equity. Emiliana also led large-scale initiatives as Chief of the Education Division at the Inter-American Development Bank and served for over a decade at The World Bank, where she advanced projects aimed at bridging opportunity gaps for underrepresented and marginalised communities. Across these leadership positions, Emiliana has worked at the highest levels to champion inclusive policies, advocate for systemic reform, and promote lifelong learning for all.

Emiliana’s contributions to diversity and inclusion have been widely recognised. She has advised UNESCO’s International Institute for Education Planning, the Organisation of Ibero-American States, and the World Bank’s Technology for Teaching Initiative, consistently pushing for education systems that serve every learner, regardless of background. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Emiliana’s research highlighted the devastating inequities exacerbated by school closures, influencing international strategies to mitigate learning losses among vulnerable populations. She is celebrated for her forthcoming book, Let’s Change the World, which provides aspiring changemakers with a blueprint for driving positive impact within global development institutions.

As a keynote speaker, Emiliana is renowned for her ability to blend deep academic expertise with powerful real-world insights. Her recent speaking engagements include the Latin American Business Council Assembly hosted by Pope Francis and the World Economic Forum’s Sustainable Development Impact Summit, where she addressed the urgent need for inclusive education systems. Emiliana’s passionate and practical approach motivates audiences worldwide to rethink education, embrace diversity, and drive transformational change. Through every talk, she empowers others to believe that equitable, inclusive education is not only a fundamental right but a catalyst for a better future for all.