Born in 1946. Hamburg. Until 1966 visiting different schools. 1970 advertising and public relations agencies, Hamburg and Bonn. 1971-79 editor in publishing house Märkte & Medien GmbH, Hamburg. 1983-1994 Head of office of Volker Rühe, MP and Federal Defense Minister. 1986-1994 Member of the Hamburg State Parliament. 1991-1994 Chairwoman of the Social Committee. Since 1992 Member of the Board of the Hamburg CDU. 1994-2001 Member of the German Bundestag. 1998- 2000 Chairman of the Working Group Work and Social Affairs of the CDU / CSU parliamentary group. 2000-2001 parliamentary manager of the CDU / CSU parliamentary group. 2001-2008 Senator for Social Affairs and Family, Health and Consumer Protection. 2004-2008 Deputy Mayor of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. 2008-2009 member of the Hamburg State Parliament. MEP since 2009.