University graduate economist with more than 30 years of work experience in the fields of rural development, regional development, green tourism, and ecology. Since 1998, he has been employed as a director at the Prlekija Development Agency, which is a leading partner of LAG Prlekija and a partner institution of the Mura Regional Development Agency. In the years 1989-1998, he was the director of the company Mikrokozmos, in which he and his partners were pioneers of organic agriculture in Slovenia. In 2002, he co-founded the Slovenian Rural Development Network, which he chaired from 2008-2014. Representative of Slovenian Local Action Groups in the European LEADER Association for Rural Development (ELARD). A prominent member of PREPARE (Partnerships for Rural Europe), where he served as coordinator and chair. Representative of PREPARE in the bodies of the European Network for Rural Development (ENRD). Since 2011, he has been an initiator of the initiative of rural parliaments, co-president of the European Rural Parliament 2017-2019. Author of numerous articles and publications, and co-author and editor of the book “Rural Parliaments – Emerging Participatory Democracy”. Co-author of a monograph on the LEADER programme in Slovenia. Invited lecturer and collaborator at rural development projects in Slovenia, in the countries of Northern and Central Europe, the Western Balkans, the Black Sea countries, and China.