Tatyana Golikova (Òàòüÿíà Àëåêñååâíà Ãîëèêîâà) was born in town of Mytishchi, Moscow region, on Feb. 9, 1966.

Education: Labor and economics, Plekhanov Institute of National Economy, 1987. Ph.D., Economics.

1987-1990: Researcher with the Labor Research Institute under the Soviet State Labor Committee

1990-1999: Rose from economist to head of the Finance Ministry's Budget Department

1998-1999: Member of the board of the Finance Ministry

1999-2007: Deputy finance minister. (She was first deputy finance minister from 2002 to 2004.) Despite her low public profile, Golikova played a leading role at the Finance Ministry as the principal author of the federal budget from 2002 to 2007, according to sources. In her duties as deputy finance minister, Golikova was involved in implementing a boost in spending on prominent social issues, including housing for military personnel and maternity benefits (story). She is also played a central role in passing a controversial law to monetize social benefits.

September 2007-present: Health and social development minister, appointed by presidential decree. It was thought that she was appointed to help the Health and Social Development Ministry iron out financial problems (story).

Golikova is married to Industry and Trade Minister Viktor Khristenko.