After having graduated from the Technical Faculty of the University of Maribor, Department of Chemical Engineering in 1984, he started working as chemical technologist at the Ruše nitrogen factory. In 1987, he joined the staff of the Technical Faculty as a teaching and research assistant, continuing his postgraduate training at the University of Twente, the Netherlands (1992–1994).
In 1994, he began teaching at the Secondary School of Ruše where he was appointed headmaster in 1997. He held the position until 2000 when he was elected deputy of the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia. In the parliamentary term 2000 - 2004, he was a member of the Committee on Health, Labour, the Family, Social Affairs and the Disabled (Deputy Chair between 2003 and 2004); a member of the Committee on Culture, Education, Youth, Science and Sport, as well as a member of the Committee on Finance and Monetary Policy, and Chair of the Committee on EU Affairs (2004). He was also a member of the Executive Committee of the GLOBE Slovenia Parliamentary Group and the President of the Parliamentary friendship group with Finland.
In 2003 - 2004, he was nominated Observer to the European Parliament and later Member of the European Parliament. In 2004, he was re-elected deputy of the National Assembly and chairs the Committee on Health. He is also a member of the Executive Committee of the GLOBE Slovenia Parliamentary Group.
Since 1998, he has been a member of the Ruše Municipal Council.
