Yücel Yılmaz

Yücel Yılmaz was born in 1975, and is a father of three. He received his university education in Eskişehir, and served as president of the university student senate. He received his Master's degree in Economics and Trade Policy at Izmir Democracy University. Yılmaz established YDS Academy Language Schools, which currently operates throughout Türkiye, and previously worked as an English teacher in various schools. He served as a council member and President of the Assembly at Balıkesir Chamber of Commerce. As the Founding Mayor of the Karesi Municipality, Yılmaz was elected Mayor of Karesi in 2014 and received 10 national and international awards during his term. He pioneered the establishment and served as the president of the Association of Cities Organizing Oil Wrestling in Türkiye. Yılmaz was elected as Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor in 2019. He currently serves as the Vice President of the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) for the 2022-2026 period and the Ambassador for the Pact for the Future - Future of Government. In the 2019-2022 period, Yılmaz served as the Co-President of the United Cities and Local Governments Middle East and West Asia Section (UCLG-MEWA), one of the nine sections of the UCLG, and currently serves as Board Member, Chairman of UCLG-MEWA Culture and Tourism Committee, and Co-Chairman of UCLG-MEWA Environment Committee for the 2022-2025 period. He is a Board Member at the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye Regent Park World Urban Community.