Natalia Vega Varela

Natalia Vega Varela is a policy leader and data-driven researcher dedicated to advancing gender equity, economic development, and social justice through evidence-based policymaking. She currently serves as the Director of Policy at the Gender Equity Policy Institute (GEPI), where she leads research and analysis that illuminate how policy decisions affect women and marginalized groups. In this role, Natalia has overseen impactful reports addressing issues such as unpaid labor, gender disparities in energy affordability, and the broader economic inequities that shape women’s lives in California and beyond. Her expertise in quantitative analysis and policy evaluation allows her to translate complex data into actionable insights that inform equitable public policy.

Before joining GEPI, Natalia gained extensive experience in international organizations, think tanks, and academic institutions. She worked with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, contributing to reports on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and analyzing Voluntary National Reviews to assess countries’ progress toward the 2030 Agenda. Natalia also served as a Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant at The New School University and as a Program Associate at the Observatory on Latin America, where she engaged with global policymakers, scholars, and civil society leaders on sustainable development and governance issues. Her early career included roles at the Consejo Mexicano de Asuntos Internacionales (COMEXI) and participation in international cooperation projects focused on Latin American social and economic policy.

Natalia holds a Master’s degree in International Affairs and Economic Development from The New School University in New York and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Applied Quantitative Methods at Northeastern University. Fluent in English, Spanish, and French, she combines technical proficiency in data tools like R, SQL, ArcGIS, Tableau, and Carto with a deep commitment to intersectional analysis and inclusive development. Based in Dallas, Texas, Natalia continues to champion the use of data and policy to close gender gaps and create a fairer, more equitable society.

• Human Subjects Research
• Academic Research Foundations: Quantitative

• Northeastern University - MA
• The New School - MA

• AIESEC