Vanessa Vera

Vanessa Vera joined ICM in 2026. As Policy Lead, Vanessa is responsible for advancing ICM’s policy and advocacy agenda to embed midwifery within health, gender and development policies at national, regional and global levels. She leads policy positioning and works closely with partners and stakeholders to influence decision-making across key policy spaces.

Prior to joining ICM, Vanessa worked across governmental bodies in Peru, most extensively within the Ministry of Education, where she supported education policy reform through research and policy analysis. She also collaborated with international non-profit organisations, including CARE’s Climate Justice Center, contributing to global advocacy efforts on climate justice and social equity. Across these roles, she developed policy briefs and evidence-based recommendations grounded in qualitative and quantitative research to support effective policy implementation.

Vanessa holds a Master’s degree in Development Studies from Erasmus University Rotterdam and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics. Originally from Peru and now based in the Netherlands, she is committed to using policy as a tool to advance equitable, inclusive health systems and strengthen the role of midwives worldwide.

Based in: The Netherlands
Home country: Peru
Languages: English and Spanish