From Peru to Oxford: David Vera Tudela Traverso’s Journey of Purpose and Possibility

When the world went into lockdown in 2020, David Vera Tudela Traverso found himself at the centre of one of the most urgent challenges facing his country: how to keep more than seven million children in Peru learning when schools were closed.

At the time, David was Chief of the Budget and Planning Office at the Ministry of Education, leading a team of more than 200 people. As the pandemic shut down classrooms across the nation, those living in rural areas who did not have internet or even electricity, found themselves in a situation worse than before. David and his colleagues had to imagine a new kind of education system.

“We had to think about how to reach every student, even those in the poorest and most remote areas,” he recalls. “We designed a strategy to deliver nearly a million tablets loaded with offline educational apps for self-learning, some with solar chargers, to children and teachers who had no access to the internet. It was exhausting and at times frustrating, but when we delivered the first tablets to schools, it was worth it.”

That experience of working in the public sector and seeing it change lives, shaped the way David thinks about education and public service.

“Working in the public sector gives you a deep sense of responsibility. You have to be careful with every decision because it affects real people’s lives,” David says.

David with his colleagues at the Ministry of Education in Peru.

A new chapter in Oxford

In April 2024, David and his family left Peru for the UK after his wife was accepted to study for a DPhil at Oxford. “It was a difficult decision,” he admits. “But I wanted to support her dreams, and we wanted our two boys to have new opportunities, to grow up learning new languages, in a safe and open environment.”

Settling in Oxford meant a new rhythm of life, one with shorter work days and more time for family. In June 2025, David joined the Department of Education as a Course Administrator, a role he describes as both humbling and fulfilling.

David and his team enjoying a sunny day in Oxford, cruising down the canal.

“In Peru, my work changed people’s lives on a national scale. Here, I get to make a difference in a very much different, yet meaningful ways, by helping one student at a time. Whether it’s calling a student who’s about to miss a deadline or helping someone navigate an extension, it all matters. My purpose hasn’t changed — it’s still about helping others succeed.”

He laughs when he describes how students on part-time programmes often meet him in person after months of email exchanges, sometimes bringing gifts or simply to say thank you. “It’s those moments that make it special,” he says. “I like being part of their journey.”

David’s move from economics and public policy to course administration might seem like a huge change, but for him, the goal is clear.

“It’s still about impact,” he explains. “Before, I was designing policies to improve access to education. Now, I’m part of a world-class institution helping people learn, research, and go out to make their own impact.”

His experience in Peru also gave him a perspective on what education systems everywhere can learn from one another. “In Peru, we face huge challenges such as inequality, poor infrastructure, a lack of effective teacher training. But there’s also resilience, creativity, and a strong sense of community. I think institutions like Oxford can learn.

Life beyond work

Outside the office, David is a dedicated family man. His family’s movie Fridays and board game nights are the highlight of their week, and he has discovered new joys in cooking, or playing beach volleyball. “Living here is challenging, the weather and food are challenging, but it’s worth it,” he admits, smiling.

David has also continued his lifelong commitment to community work, inspired by more than a decade of volunteering in Lima, where he ran weekly workshops for elderly people in one of the city’s poorest areas. “Those experiences taught me empathy, patience, and perspective,” he says. “Wherever I go, I want to keep that spirit alive.”

Asked what drives him today, David pauses. “I want to keep learning and growing,” he says. “But more than that, I want my work, here or back home, to make life a little better for someone else. That’s what makes it all meaningful.”

From leading a nationwide education reform in Peru to helping Oxford students thrive, David’s story is one of quiet determination, a reminder that making a difference doesn’t always require a grand stage, just a deep belief in purpose.

David with his wife and two boys.