Born in Sarzana in 1943. He has taught philosophy and liberal arts at high school. He has held several offices of direction within the CGIL trade union (he was secretary for Liguria until July 1996, and he was national secretary-general of the Training and Research Federation). He has taken part in the drawing up of the labour agreement of September 1996 and the social pact of December 1988. He has been vice-president and then president of the Confindustria-Sindacati National Bilateral Body (Italian Manufacturers’ Association-Trade Unions), whose aim is detecting business’ vocational needs. He is in charge of the sector «Knowledge, vocation and culture» within the Secretary of the Democratic Left Party.
As an expert of school, university, research and vocational training, he has written various articles and essays on these topics.