Date of birth: 16 July 1954
Place of residence: Villach, Austria
Civil status: Married, one daughter
Academic studies: English studies and history
Profession: Teacher
Political mandates and functions
| 2016-11.2017 |
President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE |
| 2016-2017 | Special Representative of the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE for Central and Eastern Asia |
| 2014 – 2016 | Vice-President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE and Deputy Head of the Austrian delegation |
| 2014-2017 | Co-President of “Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament” |
| 2009-2017 | Spokesperson of the Parliamentary Group of the Social Democratic Party for EU and Foreign Affairs; Deputy Chairperson of the EU Affairs Committee of the National Council; Member of the Foreign Policy Committee of the National Council; Member of the National Security Council |
| 2003-2009 | Chairperson of the Committee for Cultural Affairs of the National Council |
| Since 2003 | Member of the Austrian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (i.a. Deputy Chairperson of the Sub-Committee on Culture, Diversity and Heritage; Member of the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy; repeatedly serving as rapporteur) |
| 2000-2017 | Member of the Austrian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE |
| 1999-2017 | Member of the Austrian Parliament |
| 1997-1999 | Member of the Municipal Council of the City of Villach |






