Oktay Özel was born in Seydişehir, Konya in 1987. He graduated from Mahmut Esat High Scholl in 2005. He completed his university education with a degree of civil engineering from Istanbul Technical University (İTÜ) in 2010. He participated in Erasmus Exchange Programme in 2007 for a year at the University of Hannover. Afterwards, he has worked as an earthquake engineer in the private sector for almost a year. Following his private sector experience, he has started to work in the Section of Art Work and Construction Affairs, Istanbul 1st Regional Directorate, General Directorate of Foundations with a central appointment in September 2011. He worked as a Control Engineer in many restoration projects such as Beyazıt Mosque, Nusretiye Mosque, Yıldız Hamidiye Mosque, Nuru Osmaniye Mosque, Spice Bazaar, Büyük Mecidiye Mosque and Terra Santa Church. He has also managed the preparation processes for surveys, restitutions, restorations and strengthening projects on cultural assets. Furthermore, he has served as a member in the General Directorate of Foundations’ price-fixing commission. He has written articles and prepared academic studies on the subjects of restoration processes of cultural assets and earthquake reinforcement of cultural structures. He has started to work in the Department of Cultural Assets Conservation of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality on 16 November 2019. He is married and has a son.