Customs grad blazes trail in Middle East

Edward O'Daly

13 April 2011: The first Jordanian graduate from the University’s customs program was awarded his degree on 31 March.

Jordanian Ambassador Her Excellency Rima Ahmad Alaadeen attended the ceremony in the Great Hall of Parliament House to congratulate Jamal Olaimat on completing his Master of International Customs Law and Administration.

Mr Olaimat will now continue his association with the Centre for Customs and Excise Studies (CCES) at the University of Canberra by working as its regional manager in Middle East.

“I am proud to be the first person from the region to complete this master’s degree,” Mr Olaimat.

Jamal Olaimat with Jordanian Ambassador Her Excellency Rima Ahmad Alaadeen. Photo: Rohani Moore

Mr Olaimat said he chose the degree because of the centre’s international reputation and the accreditation from the World Customs Organization.

“It’s a distinguished centre and the degree is academic, but at the same time professional,” he added.
Mr Olaimat has more than 20 years experience in customs related matters having worked for the Customs Department in Amman, Jordan as well as a number of United States aid projects in Jordan.

Mr Olaimat lives in Amman and manages all CCES business in the Middle East and North Africa as well as the AusAID sponsored Iraq Customs and Border Control project. 

Jamal’s wife Ghada accompanied him to the graduation ceremony in the Great Hall at Parliament House.

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