Education:
1971 – 1980: Elementary school in Hokksund
1980 – 1983: Upper secondary school, Hokksund upper secondary school – natural sciences
1983 – 1984: Agronomy course at Buskerud agricultural school
1985 – 1989: Agricultural University of Norway, plant culture

Work experience:
1984 – 1985: Military service in army communications (telegraphist)
1989: Short engagement for the Norwegian Agriculture Department.
1989: 5 month engagement as scientific assistant at Apelsvoll Research Station, Østre Toten.
1990 – 1991: Political advisor for the Centre Party parliamentary group
1991 – 1994: General manager of Landbrukets Fagsenter Østlandet in Lier
1992 – present: Farmer
1999 – 2000: Political advisor for the Minister of Finance
2002 – 2009: Writer (part-time) for NRK P2's satirical radio programme "Hallo i uken"
1998 – 2009: Columnist in regional newspaper Drammens Tidene
2008 – 2011: Chairman of the board and project manager for Fellespakkeriet SA in Lier (www.fellespakkeriet.no)

Other important offices:
1981 – 1986: board member/deputy chairman/leader of Øvre Eiker Centre Party Youth
1983 – 1986: School policy chairman of Buskerud Centre Party Youth
1986 – 1987: Political deputy chairman of Buskerud Centre Party Youth
1984 – 1988: Educational policy committee Centre Party Youth national federation
1987 – 1989: Secretary General for UKA-88 at the Agricultural University of Norway
1991 – 2003: Member of municipal council in Lier
1995 – 2001: Head of Lier Centre Party
1991 – 1995: Member of main committee for education in Lier
1995 – 1999: Member of technical main committee in Lier
1999 – 2003: Member of municipal executive board in Lier
1994 – 1995: Member of committee to evaluate the central equal opportunity organization (appointed by the Ministry of Children and Family Affairs, NOU 1995:15)
1997 – 1998: Head of the Centre Party's organization committee
1998 – 2000: Head of the Centre Party's agricultural policy committee
1996 – present: Board member of Eidos eiendomsutvikling, Lier (www.eidos.no)
2011 – present: Member of the board of representatives of the Royal Norwegian Society for Development (leave of absence)