Kamel Mahadin

• Name — Kamel Mahadin كامل محادين • Office — Senator at the House of Senate • Term Start — November 2014 • Term End — October 2016 • Office2 — Chief Commissioner of Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority • Term Start2 — August 2012 • Term End2 — November 2014 • Predecessor2 — Nasir Al Madadha • Successor2 — Hani Mulki • Office3 — Minister of Water and Irrigation • Term Start3 — March 1999 • Term End3 — June 2000 • Born — 24 June 1954 • Birthplace — Karak, Jordan • Spouse — Khalida Maaitah • Children — Tariq, Yazan, Amer, Tamara • Website — www.kamelomahadin.com

Kamel Mahadin is the son of Ottallah Mahadin a retired governor and his mother Huryeh Al Usta. In 1982, he married Khalida Maaitah, with whom he has three sons: Tariq, Yazan, Amer and one daughter Tamara. Apart from Arabic, Mahadin is fluent in English.

Kamel was born in Karak, Jordan in 1954, finished secondary education at the high school of Mafraq, Jordan and received a scholarship from the United States Agency for International Development to study architecture at the American University of Beirut. After four years, his scholarship was transferred to the United States due to war in Lebanon; received his bachelor's degree in architecture from Kansas State University and master's degree in landscape architecture from Louisiana State University. Doctorates in environmental designs were awarded from Texas A & M University. Worked as a campus planner for Louisiana State University and later as a visiting lecturer at Texas A&M University. In 1987 returned to Jordan teaching at the Department of Architecture at University of Jordan, where he became chairman of the department from 1991 to 1995. In 1987, then founded M K Associates; Jordan's only specialized landscape design firm. Over a period of twenty years, he served as a landscape consultant for Amman Greater Municipality, Mutah University, Al-El Beit University and the Ministry of Tourism and served as a landscape consultant to the Royal Court. In January 1997 he became Director General to Petra Regional Council, and in 1999 took the portfolio as the Ministry of Water and Irrigation. In June 2000, he came back to teaching and practicing landscape design, running M.K. Associates; a landscape design firm. Practiced design in the United States, the Persian Gulf and the Middle East. With a wide range of published articles in his field. Kamel is a registered landscape architect in the US. He is registered at the International Federation of Landscape Architects, the American Society of Landscape Architects (Texas and Louisiana) and Jordan Society of Architects and Engineers. As of August 2, 2012. Kamel has been appointed as the chief commissioner of Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority therefore he withdrawn from MK Associates and MEALA as a chairman of the board. He was chairman of the board – Aqaba Development Corporation (ADC), chairman of the board – Aqaba Container Terminal (ACT), chairman of the board of Aqaba Airports Company (King Hussein International Airport) and board trustee member of the Tafilah University. In November 2014, a royal decree was issued approving the Cabinet's acceptance of Kamel Mahadin's resignation as of November 8, while another decree was issued appointing him as senator as of November 9. In October 2017, Kamel was the first Arab to be awarded the ASLA American Society of Landscape Architects Fellowship. Dr. Mahadin, received his nomination, in Service, from the Council of Fellows Executive Committee. In November 2019, Kamel has been awarded the "Life Time Achievement Award" at the First Landscape Middle East Awards Ceremony at the Ritz Carlton DIFC Hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Event was dedicate to the memory of Dr Musa Nimah (1942-2016). The awards ceremony honored those who through their dedication, creativity and relentless efforts, have left a positive impact on the landscape profession in the region.