Yusuf Günay was born in 1963 in Sinop-Türkeli. He graduated from the Faculty of Political Sciences of Ankara University. He served as Director General of Laws and Decrees of the Prime Ministry for 5 years from 1997.
In 1990-91, he studied Modern Public Administration Techniques and European Community Law in the Royal Public Administration Institute of England. He became a Specialist on European Community Law at ATAUM of Ankara University.
Starting from 1999, he served as Member and Vice Chairman of the General Assembly and the Board of Directors of the Press Advertising Institution as Government representative. He is married and has two children.