Varun Srivatsan ’14 Reflects on How Peace-building Values Shape His Work in National Fiscal Policy
By the Alumni and Communications Team, UWCSEA
16 July 2026
Just ten years after arriving in Canada as an immigrant, Varun Srivatsan found himself standing in the House of Commons, holding the very first copy of the national budget. Turns out, a healthy dose of empathy, a bit of economic savvy, and some UWC boldness can carry you from a classroom to a ramen kitchen and eventually to the heart of Canadian Parliament.
Today, Varun serves as the Director of Policy to Canada’s Minister of Finance, where he helps translate national values into fiscal reality. On his recent catch-up with the Alumni Team, he gave a sneak peek into his line of work, discussing how a formative IfP trip to Sri Lanka shaped his approach to modern diplomacy, why disagreement is a vital tool for a policymaker, and why he believes that if students trade their fear for curiosity, there’s no limit to where you can pull up a chair.
Can you tell us about your career journey since graduating from UWCSEA East in 2014?
I went to the University of British Columbia (UBC) and really got spoiled by the Vancouver mountains and oceans for four years. After that, I moved out east to Ottawa to work in the Canadian Parliament. I eventually moved back to Vancouver for a bit to work in consulting—and even moonlighted as a ramen chef, which was really fun!
After another stint in the federal government, I moved to London, England, for graduate studies. I returned to Toronto for a role at a bank, and now I’m back working in federal politics.
You currently serve as the Director of Policy to Canada’s Minister of Finance. What does that role actually entail?
Essentially, I serve as the Minister’s Chief Economic and Fiscal Policy Advisor. When the time comes to make big decisions about fiscal policy in the government of Canada—like delivering the budget—it’s my job to help provide advice and help the Minister, and ultimately the Prime Minister, make those decisions.
President Joe Biden once accurately said, “Don’t tell me what your values are, show me your budget and I’ll tell you what your values are.” A budget is a reflection of a society’s values—whether they prioritise healthcare, education, or infrastructure. My role is to help put together the best advice so our budget reflects those values. For example, in our recent budget, that meant helping fund a new medical school in Toronto and pulling together a $1 billion Arctic Infrastructure Fund.
Back to Where It Began
How did your time at UWCSEA shape your career path and personal values?
The two core values UWCSEA inculcated in me were public service and impact. I drew the public service aspect from the teachers every single day. My mom is a teacher, and I truly believe teaching is an ultimate form of public service.
The “impact” piece came directly from UWC’s broader mission. I had the privilege of joining the Initiative for Peace (IfP), which was a highly formative experience. As a young adult, getting to create and facilitate dialogue about peacebuilding allowed me to drive an incredible amount of impact. When I graduated from university, I actively sought out opportunities to drive public service and maximise my impact on as many people as I could.
Is there a specific lightbulb moment from your UWCSEA experience that stands out?
Yes, during my IfP trip to Sri Lanka in 2013, a few years after the civil war ended. I’m Tamil myself from India, and I remember one evening there was a lot of disagreement and dissent among the Tamil youth in the group who didn’t feel included.
Our teacher, Skilly, asked if I could speak to them in Tamil. I spent about an hour just listening and trying to bring them into the fold. That was a lightbulb moment for me—realising that you have the opportunity to shape people’s perceptions and experiences simply by engaging and talking with them.
How do you think your student experience prepared you for your career?
Resilience isn’t just a mindset you read about; it’s something you live through. There’s that old saying: Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face. That is the heart of resilience. It’s not just your ability to withstand; it’s your ability to bounce back.
At UWCSEA, the sports programme was really formative for this. I tried three or four different sports. It’s easy to give up on the ones you aren’t good at, but choosing to stay and improve builds that muscle.
I had to use that resilience two years into my career. I was an economist and had amazing opportunities lined up to work in microfinance in Tajikistan, India, or Bali. Then COVID happened, and all of it vanished. I was forced to pivot. Remembering my UWC Values of service and impact, I decided to apply my economic development skills within Canada instead, ultimately working with Indigenous First Nations communities. It was a scary, non-traditional path, but it allowed me to drive real impact.
How do you navigate environments where not everyone aligns with your passion for impact?
It’s really important to draw on different voices and create as inclusive a space as you can. This is another lesson I took from UWCSEA: you need to create the space for people to be able to share and dissent openly. Disagreeing is a crucial part of engagement and dialogue, and as a policymaker, you have an obligation to make room for that dissent.
"Pinch Me" Moment
Looking back, what is your proudest professional achievement?
I felt really proud when I was the first person to hold a copy of the country’s budget. I had arrived in Canada as an immigrant ten years prior, so getting the privilege to lead a federal budget was incredibly special. Sitting next to former Prime Minister and Finance Minister (Jean Chrétien) while the speech was delivered in the House of Commons—those moments pull you back, and you recognise how lucky you are to participate in shaping the country.
What advice do you have for current Grade 9 and 10 students looking ahead?
I wish I knew back then to not feel so scared. At UWCSEA, you come in with a lot of privilege, but that also comes with immense pressure to succeed in school, sports, and arts. That pressure creates fear, which can limit what you feel you are able to do later.
My advice: Be bold. Be courageous.
Don’t be afraid to break out of the mould and just do you. That is the only form of true success you can live with."
– Varun Srivatsan ’14