Mustafa Yilmaz was born in 1966 in Nizip, Gaziantep.
Following his secondary education at Nizip, he completed his studies between 1984 and 1988 at Istanbul University’s Faculty of Law. 

He started his career as a freelance lawyer in 1989 in Istanbul, and worked as a lawyer in the energy sector between 1993 and 2004. During this period, he contributed to the works of some NGOs.

Mustafa Yilmaz was appointed as a board member of the Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EMRA) by the decision of the Council of Ministers published in the Official Gazette dated 21 February 2004. Having been appointed as the Second President on 28 January 2010, he carried out his duty until he was assigned as the President of EMRA by the decision of the Council of Ministers published in the Official Gazette dated 20 February 2014. Mustafa Yilmaz was reappointed as the President of EMRA a second time, on 1 March 2016.

The activities, launched to promote the efficiency of EMRA at international platforms, have been increased much more during his presidency. In this period, 6th World Forum on Energy Regulation hosted by and under the chairmanship of EMRA was organized in İstanbul and EMRA has become a much more active member of Energy Regulators Regional Association (ERRA) and Mediterranean Energy Regulators (MEDREG). He was recently elected to the Presidium of the Energy Regulators Regional Association (ERRA).

Mustafa Yilmaz speaks English, and is married with three children.