Born on 23 January 1976 in Erfurt

1991 to 1994
Abitur (university entrance qualification) in Erfurt

1994 to 1997
Trained as a bank clerk at Volksbank Erfurt

Since 1995
Member of the SPD

1995 to 1999
Member of the SPD District Executive in Erfurt

1997 to 1998
Civilian service in Erfurt

1998
Bank clerk at Sparkasse Erfurt

Since 1998
Member of the Bundestag

2005 to 2013
Fiscal policy spokesperson of the SPD parliamentary group in the Bundestag

2013 to 2017
Vice Chair of the SPD parliamentary group in the Bundestag

2014 to 2017
Vice Chair of the SPD in Thuringia

2017 to 2021
First Parliamentary Secretary of the SPD parliamentary group in the Bundestag

December 2021 to May 2025
Minister of State and Federal Government Commissioner for Eastern Germany

Since 6 May 2025
Federal Minister for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety