What is your area of specialization and how did you come to work in this area?

Although I have originally graduated in public finance and insurance mathematics, I devote most of my time and interest to politics, public administration and development of services in general interest. Most of my engagements usually started on the basis of personal contacts and recommendations. To put it bluntly, the right people in the right places trusted my skills and expertise and offered me a job.

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As project coordinator and co-author of the final publication, you have been involved in preparing a vision for the Czech healthcare system. Please tell us more about this ambitious project and your role in it.

As everywhere else in the developed world, also in the Czech Republic health care system and its finances are in crises. People need and want more and better services, technology is enabling miracles, but nobody wants to pay the bill. With our project we wanted to solve the puzzle. Under the umbrella of Czech government, we have gathered representatives from all political parties and experts from the field and enabled them to debate the best option. Our role consisted of both steering and cultivating the debate and delivering the latest available knowledge.

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You are also working as ‘parliamentary assistant’ to one of the Czech Republic’s members of the European Parliament. What are the responsibilities and duties of an assistant?

I have a chance to cooperate with a really honest and kind person – Mr. Vlasak, former mayor of one of the big cities in my country, current president of the Czech Union of Towns and Municipalities and the executive president of the Council of European Towns and Municipalities. I perform mainly advisory roles so that he can better manage his functions. This consists of drafting legislation and related amendments, analyzing key issues and predicting behavior of other actors, preparing speeches etc. Our interest relates to municipal governance, regional policy and utilization of European funds and the field of transport.

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And you are also teaching at Charles University in Prague? What subject(s) are you teaching? What do you like most about teaching?

I teach subjects I have mainly done in the past. That is social policy, care services, their financing, planning and quality assurance. I also lecture on European integration, policy-making and lobbying. I like and admire students that hesitate about what I say, who are able to challenge theories with experiences from practice, simply those who think. In contrast I do not understand students who sit in the class just to have a degree, which they want to have literally for free. Unfortunately I sometimes feel that the first category is more and more rare.

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During your career, what achievement(s) are you most proud of and what has been the most rewarding aspect of your career thus far?

Studying at GRIPS and living in Japan was fantastic. I learned how to communicate with people with different cultural backgrounds, I learned how politics can influence the real life. Especially the political science part of the program is very beneficial for me at the moment.

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Did the, perhaps more lucrative, private sector ever hold any appeal for you?

Yes, as I have said. But I’m happy where I am.

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If you could choose another profession to be in, what would it be?

I would not change. I’m happy with what I do.

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What is your fondest memory of your time spent at GRIPS?

Surely times spent with my friends and YLP batch-mates Zsuzsa from Hungary and Peter from Slovakia. Doesn’t matter if we just rode our bicycle to school or went hiking in Hokkaido, I always enjoyed it. This is also something I very much miss and something I would pay a fortune to get back.

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What do you miss about Japan?

Simply everything. Nature, culture, food, technology, …

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What is your favorite thing to do when you are not working? I remember you as a very talented nature photographer. Do you still have time to go trekking and take photos?

Not so much. We have an orchard in the countryside that deserves our attention. We have bought an originally baroque house that used to be part of the castle, so we try to renovate it. Trekking business is over, gardening and construction takes the lead.

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It seems you are a busy man. How do you maintain a balance between your work and the rest of your life?

When not working I try to spend as much time as possible with my wife and our families. Nobody complains so I hope I manage.

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What advice would you give to current GRIPS students?

Use every opportunity to meet people and travel around Japan. Do not try to save money. Another financial crises will take away your savings, people could rob you, but nobody can take away your memories.