Andrej Vizjak was born in Brežice on 6 August 1964. After grammar school in Brežice he studied at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, where he also continued as a postgraduate, obtaining the MSc degree in electronic technology.

His first job was at the Litostroj plant in Ljubljana. Then he worked as a junior researcher for the Jožef Stefan Institute, collaborating on developmental research projects in computer automation of industrial processes for the needs of the Videm Krško cellulose and paper manufacturer. In 1994 he was employed as a labour inspector at the Krško branch of the Labour Inspectorate. In 2000 he served as state secretary for the area of employment at the Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs.

Andrej Vizjak was elected to the National Assembly in 2000, and was head of the SDS deputy group. His desire to play an active part in creating better conditions in his home municipality and to boost the standing of the Municipality of Brežice and the Posavje region within Slovenia was crucial to his decision to stand in the 2002 local elections, in which he was elected mayor of the Municipality of Brežice. On 3 December 2004 he was appointed Minister of the economy.

MSc Tomaž Jeršič, born on 18 July 1968 in Celje, lives with his family at Ljubečna pri Celju.

He finished the Secondary Technical School in Celje and, in 1993, graduated in international economic relations from the Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Maribor. In 1998, he graduated from the same faculty in the field of business finance and banking to hold a title 'Bachelor of Science in Economics'. He continued his postgraduate studies at the same faculty and in the same field and attained a 'Master of Science' title.

In the period from 1991 to 1998, MSc Tomaž Jeršič was an independent top-class sportsman - handball player with Celje Pivovarna Laško handball club and with the Prevent Club from Slovenj Gradec. In 1998, he was employed as an account officer in the credit and deposit department with Nova Ljubljanska Banka, d.d., Celje branch office. In 1999, he took up the management of the Žalec branch office with the same bank. He held the post of an executive director with the company Prevent, d.d., Slovenj Gradec from 2001 to 2004 and of a director with the company Prevent Gradnje, d.o.o., Maribor from 2004 to 2005, while holding a post of a deputy director-general with Prevent Global, d.d. Slovenj Gradec.

In 2005, he co-funded the company ProHolding, d.o.o., Celje and became its director.

On 31 May 2007, the Government of the RS adopted a Decision appointing him a State Secretary with the Ministry of the Economy.