Mary Nazzal-Batayneh
Mary Nazzal is a barrister, social entrepreneur, and activist. She was selected as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and was recognized by Forbes as one of the “Most Powerful Arab Women” for her work at the intersection of law, hospitality, and impact-driven ventures.
Early life and education
Nazzal was born in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1979, the daughter of Yousef Nazzal and Bernadette Bladen-Taylor. Her father ran Beirut’s Commodore Hotel, which became a base for foreign correspondents during the conflict and was later profiled in a documentary; it is also referenced in Thomas Friedman’s From Beirut to Jerusalem.She has Palestinian-Jordanian, Irish, Colombian, and Indian heritage. She married Aysar Batayneh in 2003, and they have three children.
Education
Nazzal earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Columbia University. She went on to complete a law degree at the College of Law and a Master of Arts in law at SOAS University of London. She was called to the Bar of England and Wales through the Inns of Court School of Law.She has also undertaken executive education programs at the University of Oxford, the University of Zurich, Columbia Business School, Harvard Business School, and the Harvard Kennedy School, focusing on transformational leadership, public policy, alternative investments, and impact investment.
Career
Amman Landmark Hotel
Nazzal is the founder and chair of the Amman Landmark, a hotel in Jordan’s capital. She held different positions within the Landmark group, including at the family-owned property in Aqaba, before establishing the Amman Landmark under its current name. The Landmark group also managed the St. George Landmark Hotel in East Jerusalem when it reopened in 2012. It has also partnered with UNRWA, the World Food Programme, the UNHCR, and GIZ on projects related to gender inclusion and refugee support. In collaboration with Endeavor, Nazzal also launched “Landmark 2.0,” a hospitality incubator for local entrepreneurs.Her work at the Landmark has been recognized in regional and international media, including Forbes Middle East, which featured her on its cover in 2014 in a story titled “Hospitality Meets Humanity,” and Entrepreneur Middle East, which profiled her in 2021 in an article titled “Restoring Hope: Landmark Amman Founder Mary Nazzal Is Doing Her Part to Revitalize Jordan’s Business Landscape.”
Legal and advocacy work
In addition to her business ventures, Nazzal has been active in law and justice advocacy. In 2009, she co-founded the Palestine Legal Aid Fund to advance accountability under international law. Her work was profiled in The National in an article titled “Nazzal fights to bring Israeli officials to justice.” She currently serves on the board of the European Legal Support Center, the first independent organization providing legal support to the Palestine solidarity movement across Europe. She has been active in campaigns linked to the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement, and was quoted in Middle East Report Online describing Israeli gas imports as “a gateway to normalized relations.” She is also a brand ambassador for SEP the Brand, the first certified B Corporation in Jordan, which works with Gazan refugee women artisans. Her support for SEP the Brand was highlighted in The Guardian.In addition, Nazzal has served on the boards of organizations such as the King Hussein Cancer Foundation and Center, and the Royal Film Commission – Jordan. She has also advised initiatives including the Britain Palestine Media Center and the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, where she was previously a board member.