I was born in the central Moravian town of Olomouc on October 19th, 1951. After graduating from primary and secondary school in Olomouc I chose to study at the Czech Technical University in Prague.
Upon graduating from the University I took a job at the University Regional Computing Centre (URCC) in Prague. In the early 80s I started developing a special interest in data communication and computer networking.
In 1985 I started my Ph. D. studies at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of the Czech Technical University of Prague. During my studies I spent 4 months in Denmark doing research work on computer networks. I have finished my Ph. D. in 1989.
In 1986 I became the head of the Data Communication and Computer Networking department of the URCC. There I was responsible for various research and development projects. In May 1990 I become the national director of the European Academic and Research Network – EARN. At the time EARN did not exist in Czechoslovakia, there was no similar national network. I was responsible for setting up the network in all of Czechoslovakia. During 1991 I was leading team that established connection of mainframe computer at the Czech Technical University in Prague to Internet. On 13th February 1992 I have organized Official opening of Internet services in Czechoslovakia.
During year 1992 I was responsible for establishment of the country-wide Internet type network in the Czech Republic – CESNET.
New legal body, CESNET, Association of Legal Entities was founded in March 1996 and I was elected managing director of the CESNET. I am in the position of managing director of CESNET (www.cesnet.cz) up to now. Since 1996 I am also member of the Board of Directors of CESNET.
I was very active in establishing of organization that is in charge for peering in the Czech Republic – NIX.CZ (www.nix.cz) and was elected to the position of the first chairman of the executive committee of the NIX.CZ. In this position I have served six years.
I have also initiated creation of legal body CZ.NIC (www.nic.cz) that is responsible for administration and operation of the top level domain .CZ
During the period of 1996 to 2000 I was fully responsible (both technically and economically) for designing, building and operation of the CESNET2 network. In 2000 CESNET network together with the customer base was sold to CONTACTEL.
I have significantly contributed to founding of the CEENET (Central and Eastern European Networking Association) and in the period of 1998 to 2003 I was the chairman of the CEENET. During that period I have intensively worked on introducing and improving of Internet services in R&D environment not only in region of Central and Eastern Europe but also to republics of former Soviet Union. For more five years I have served as consultant for NATO in area of Caucasus. I was responsible for establishing of IP network for R&D community in Azerbaijan.
Since 1996 to 1999 I served in the Board of Directors of the EBONE Company (pan-European Internet provider with the main office in Copenhagen, Denmark).
Since 2011 I am responsible for creation and operation of the e-Infrastructure for Research, Development and Infrastructures in the Czech Republic that consists of computer networks, grids, storage services and provisioning tools for collaboration e.g. videoconferences. I was also chairing Working Group responsible for creation and updating of the Informatics / e-Infrastructures section of Roadmap for Large Research, Development and Innovation Infrastructures in the Czech Republic.
In the period of 2003 to 2009 he was member of Board of Directors in DANTE (Delivery of Advanced Network Technology to Europe) – company that was transform to GEANT Association (www.geant.eu) and is operating pan-European network GEANT. I was also member of Executive Committee of the GN3 and GN4 projects. I represent Czech Republic in the Future Internet Forum and the e-Infrastructure Reflection Group (e-IRG) (www.e-irg.eu). During years 2008 to 2011 I was member of the Nomination Committee of ICANN www.icann.org
I can speak fluently in Czech, English and Russian. I have basic knowledge of Spanish language.
I am married , have three daughters and six grandchildren.