1985, degree in Political Sciences, 1987, Master's in Law and 1988, Master's in Economics, Catholic University of Leuven. 1987-88, Attaché, Kredietbank; 1988-89, Adviser to the Board, BAC-COB and Adviser, CEPESS; 1990-91, Adviser to Herman Van Rompuy, President, Flemish Christian Democratic Party CVP; 1991-93, Deputy Head, Jos Chabert, Minister of Budget, Finance, Civil Service and External Relations, Brussels Capital Region Government; 2000-05, Deputy Director-General, MIVB/STIB; 2004-07, Member, Flemish Regional Parliament; since 2006, Alderman, Brussels City Council; 2007-08, Minister of Welfare, Public Health and Family Affairs, Flemish Regional Government; 2008-09, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Civil Service, Public Enterprise and Institutional Reform, Belgian Federal Government; 2009-11, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Institutional Reform, Belgian Federal Government.