Mary Nazzal-Batayneh

Mary Nazzal-Batayneh is a Barrister, social entrepreneur, and impact investor whose career has focused on achieving social justice. Named as one of Forbes magazine's "Most Powerful Arab Women", she has been recognised for her legal activism, business success, and community impact. Mary is the founder of Landmark Hotels, Jordan's leading local hospitality business. Her other ventures included MVMNT, a holistic wellness business, and 17 Ventures which is focused on building impact economies.

Early life and education
Mary was born in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1979 and is the daughter of Yousef Nazzal and Bernadette Bladen-Taylor. Her family left Lebanon during the Civil War and moved to Hampstead, London. Mary was educated at St. Mary's Convent and the American School in London (ASL) and American Community School, Amman Jordan (ACS). Mary has Palestinian-Jordanian, Scottish-Irish, Indian, and Colombian roots. Mary married Aysar Batayneh in 2003, they have 3 children.

Political Science and Law
Mary has a BA in political science from Columbia University (Magna Cum Laude), an LLB from the College of Law and an MA in law from SOAS, University of London. She completed her barrister qualification at the Inns of Court School of Law and is a member of Gray’s Inn, London.

Leadership
In 2019, Mary completed Oxford University’s executive program on “Transformational Leadership” as well as an executive program at the Harvard Kennedy School on “Global Leadership and Public Policy for the 21st Century.” She also completed the Harvard Kennedy School program entitled “Public Narrative - Story of Self, Us and Now” taught by Ahel.

Investment & Beyond
Mary completed University of Zurich’s executive program on impact investment and blended finance. In 2020, she completed an impact management and measurement course, accredited by Social Value International. Mary has also completed an Executive Education program on Alternative Investments at Harvard Business School and Wealth Planning at Columbia Business School and the Value Investing program also at Columbia Business School. Mary is an ifada fellow and was part of the first cohort of fellows, this program focuses on redesigning finance products to solve the region’s access to capital challenge.

Landmark
Mary is the Founder of Landmark, a unique impact-driven hospitality brand that owns and operates Landmark Amman.

MVMNT
Mary is the Chief Executive Owner of MVMNT, a holistic wellness initiative focused on corporate wellness, kids, retreats and neuroscience.

17 Ventures
Mary is the Founder of 17 Ventures which was inspired by the UN Sustainable Development Goals and is focused on building impact economies.

Board positions and advocacy roles
-Member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO)

-Member of the Independent Women's Forum (IWF)

-Member of Beyond Capital Angel Investor Network

-Board member of the King Hussein Cancer Foundation and Center

-Board member of the Royal Film Commission of Jordan

-Advisor to the Britain Palestine Media Center

-Partner and volunteer brand ambassador for the Social Enterprise Project (SEP Jordan), and other ethical fashion brands like Lumeyo.

Previous positions
-Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum and Global Future Council Member on the Humanitarian Systems Council of World Economic Forum (WEF)

-Board member of INJAZ

-Board member of Al-Shabaka, The Palestinian Policy Network

-Board member of the Palestine Children's Relief Fund (PCRF)

-Advisory Board Member for Village Capital Financial Inclusion Program, Finance Forward MENA.

Speaker
Mary Nazzal is a distinguished speaker renowned for her expertise in addressing critical issues related to impact, leadership, business and wellness. With a background in international law and a deep commitment to social responsibility, Mary brings a wealth of knowledge to her speaking engagements.

Examples of Speaking Engagements:

-Annual World Bank meeting at a session entitled "On the Frontlines of Rising Fragility."

-World Economic Forum (WEF) on how infrastructure can be used to accelerate social impact.

-Multiple impact investment conferences such as the Global Steering Group for impact investment (GSG) and the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN)

-Corporate events for companies such as GE Healthcare.

-United Nations events, including for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)

-Harvard Arab Conference on the topic of women in the economy in the Arab world and social enterprise and refugee inclusion.

Media Coverage & Awards
-Mary was chosen as a Forbes Middle East cover story entitled Hospitality Meets Humanity in 2014.

-She was featured in Entrepreneur Magazine in a piece entitled "Restoring Hope: Landmark Amman Founder Mary Nazzal Is Doing Her Part To Revitalize Jordan's Business Landscape."

-Magnitt magazine featured Mary’s Innovation and Impact Hub at co-designed by Endeavour.

-In 2019 she was awarded Jordan's "Businesswoman of the Year" by the Jordan Business Awards.

-Mary’s international legal work also received significant media coverage, including in the National entitled, “Nazzal fights to bring Israeli officials to justice.”

-Mary was included in an exclusive exhibit at the United Nations headquarters in New York as part of events to mark the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, on 29 November 2017.