Executive Director of the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC)

Melani has been a journalist for over 20 years previously having worked at The Times, The FT, The Independent, The Guardian, The BBC and The Economist where she specialised in luxury. She wrote her first book Coveted on jewellery, art and economics, published by Phaidon in October 2020 and won the Gem Award for Media Excellence in 2021. Melanie sits on the boards of New York Jewelry Week, The Black in Jewelry Coalition, The Copenhagen Commitment, and ISEAL dedicated to ethical standards.

social: @melaniegrant

President and CEO, Gemological Institute of America (GIA)

Before joining GIA, Susan served as president and CEO of Borsheim’s Fine Jewelry and Gifts in Omaha, Nebraska for 20 years and reported directly to Warren Buffett. She served as the honorary chair of the Friends of the Diamond Development Initiative, as a trustee of the Ethical Alliance, and on the boards of Jewelers of America, Jewelers for Children, Jewelers Vigilance Committee and the Omaha Chamber of Commerce. As well as board of advisor for the Black In Jewelry Coalition. She is also a member of the 24 Karat Club of New York and Jewelers of America. She received the 2020 Stanley Schechter Award from the Jewelers Vigilance Committee, the Women’s Jewelry Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010 and was inducted into National Jeweler’s Retailer Hall of Fame in 1997. Ms. Jacques joined the GIA Board of Governors in May 1996 and served as chair from 2008 to 2013.

Curatrix. The Mineralogical and Geological Museum, Harvard University (MGMH).

Raquel is responsible for access to, teaching, research, public education, and continued development of the Earth Science Collections at the MGMH. Raquel research interests are evolved from understanding Earth-forming processes to the origin of gem deposits. Raquel is on the WJA board of the directors and the Gemstone and sustainable development knowledge Hub; she is also an Associate Editor of GIA and GEM-A. She received her Ph.D. in Earth and Material Sciences from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich, Switzerland, and graduated as gemologist by GEM-A.

social: @raque_alonso_perez

Sturgis Hooper Professor of Geology, Professor of Environmental Science and Engineering, Professor of Public Policy, Harvard University; Director, Harvard University Center for the Environment; Co-Director, Harvard Kennedy School Program on Science, Technology, and Public Policy.

Dan’s interests include climate change, energy technology, and energy policy. He has studied climate change over the broadest range of Earth’s history, including how climate change and the chemical evolution of the atmosphere influenced the evolution of life in the past, and what steps might be taken to prepare for impacts of climate change in the future. He is also interested in how we can use climate events in the geologic past to understand our current climate challenges. Dan has worked on a range of issues in energy technology and policy, including advanced technologies for low-carbon transportation fuel, carbon capture and storage, and risks and opportunities of shale gas. He was named a MacArthur Fellow in 2000. From 2009-2017, he served on President Obama’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), contributing to many reports to the President, including energy technology and national energy policy, agricultural preparedness, climate change, and STEM education.

Senior Lecturer and Managing Director, Harvard Business School, Executive Education

David Ager is a faculty member in Executive Education at Harvard Business School. Since 2014 he has been the faculty co-Chair of the GIA-HBS Global Leadership Program, which brings together owners and C-level executive from across the entire gemological and Jewelry supply chain from big mining firms to large retailers and everything in between. Prior to joining the faculty at HBS, he was a faculty member in the Sociology Department at Harvard University where he also served as the Director of Undergraduate Studies. David received his PhD in Organizational Behavior from Harvard University.

Chief Communications and ESG Officer, Signet

Colleen Rooney joined Signet in September 2019 and serves as the Chief Communications and ESG Officer. Colleen oversees communications for internal and external stakeholders, expands positive relationships with opinion leaders and the media, and evolves corporate social responsibility strategies.

She brings more than 25 years of experience, including influential communication positions with highly respected global companies such as Qurate Retail Group, parent company of innovative retailers QVC, HSN and Zulily, where she served as their Chief Communications Officer. Colleen has also been a key leader in other important transformations at DuPont, GE, Comcast, and NBCUniversal.

Jewelry Designer and Ambassador for Survival International

Pippa Small, an experienced jeweler, has been creating trinkets and souvenirs with stones, shells, and beads since her youth. Her passion for anthropology, developed through extensive travels, inspired her to study Medical Anthropology. Pippa's collaborations with grassroots organizations in Borneo, Thailand, and India reflect her interest in land rights, climate change, and human rights for marginalized groups. Recognized for her social responsibility, she is an ambassador for Survival International and received an MBE in 2013. Pippa Small opened her first shop in London in 2007, followed by a branch in Santa Monica. Her unique approach to jewelry design involves using Fairtrade and Fair Mined materials, supporting livelihoods in conflict areas, and providing training opportunities. Each Pippa Small piece carries a story, crafted by skilled artisans, symbolizing a connection to the earth and humanity. Through her designs, Pippa celebrates diverse cultures, promotes traditional crafts, and advocates for ethical jewelry practices, creating sustainable jobs and preserving craftsmanship globally.

Assistant professor of business administration in the Marketing Unit at Harvard Business School.

Elizabeth’s research explores individuals’ prosocial choices and behaviors within the domains of charitable giving and environmental sustainability. Elizabeth has investigated donors’ aversion to overhead spending by nonprofits, including its negative effects on the choice to give. In other work, she has explored drivers of green product choice, hotel towel reuse, and the underlying psychological processes involved in climate-change-related judgments. Elizabeth earned her PhD in marketing at the Rady School of Management at the University of California, San Diego; an MAS in marine biodiversity and conservation, also at UC San Diego; and a BS in biology at Loyola Marymount University. Prior to her doctoral studies, she spent ten years in nonprofit management and education at the Aquarium of the Pacific.

Senior ESG and Impacts Manager, Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC)

Jasmeet joined the Responsible Jewellery Council in April 2021 and oversees the Impacts Department. Jasmeet is dedicated to delivering positive impact across the global jewellery and watch industry and working with RJC members to create a sustainable supply chain. Jasmeet received her MSc in Environmental Diagnosis and Management from Royal Holloway University of London in 2012.

Founder, Executive Director, Mercury Free Mining

A designer-goldsmith for over 50 years, Toby became passionate about responsible gold mining after encountering Earthworks’ “No Dirty Gold” campaign in 2004. Since then, Toby has been dedicated to cultivating industry-wide support for a socially and environmentally responsible gold supply chain and a purpose-driven jewelry industry. He founded Mercury Free Mining (MFM) in 2017, a nonprofit organization committed to the discovery and deployment of mercury-free processes for the health of 20 million artisanal and small-scale gold miners and the environment upon which we all depend. MFM is fostering and implementing safe, efficient, mercury-free gold mining methods, and focusing on establishing a certified mercury-free gold supply chain to match industry demand. With a mission to eradicate the use of mercury in gold mining, MFM stands for the jewelry industry’s interdependence and solidarity with artisanal and small-scale gold miners around the world.

Executive Director, ISEAL

Karin Kreider is the Executive Director of ISEAL, the global association that supports ambitious, collaborative, and transparent sustainability systems. ISEAL is a reference point for defining credible and effective sustainability standards through its Codes of Good Practice. ISEAL drives collective efforts to tackle the most pressing sustainability issues and create a world where markets are a force for good. Before joining ISEAL, she was immersed in the start-up and growth of Rainforest Alliance and its forestry, agriculture, and tourism programmes, as Associate Director of the organisation, and as Director of the Sustainable Agriculture Programme. Karin holds a BFA and an MBA from New York University and is based in London

Higgins Professor of Geochemistry and Director of Mineralogical and Geological Museum at Harvard University

Charles Langmuir is a solid Earth geochemist who carries out research on diverse aspects of the plate tectonic geochemical cycle, including ocean ridges, convergent margins and intraplate volcanism. Charlie received his B.A. from Harvard University in 1973, and Ph.D. from the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1980. He has been at Harvard since 2002, after 20 years at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. For his scientific contributions Charlie has received the Bowen Award from the American Geophysical Union, Arthur Holmes Medal from the European Union of Geosciences for outstanding international contributions to solid Earth science, and Urey Medal from the European Union of Geochemistry for outstanding contributions to geochemistry over a career. He was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and 1998, and the National Academy of Sciences in 2006. He is a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union and the Geochemical Society.

Tiantsai Lin Professor of Electrical Engineering, Harvard University

Marko Loncar received PhD from Caltech in 2003 and joined Harvard’s School of Engineering faculty in 2006 after completing his postdoctoral studies also at Harvard. Loncar is expert in nanophotonics and nanofabrication, and has done pioneering work in the field of diamond and lithium niobate quantum and nanophotonics. Loncar is fellow of Optical Society of America, and Senior Member of IEEE and SPIE. He is co-founder of HyperLight Corporation, VC backed startup commercializing lithium-niobate technology developed in his lab

Yang Shao-Horn is JR EAST Professor of Engineering and faculty in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Materials Science and Engineering and the Research Laboratory of Electronics at MIT. Her research is centered on using physical/material chemistry to control kinetics and dynamics in processes of making zero-carbon energy, chemicals and fuels.Prof. Shao-Horn is a member of the National Academy of Engineering. She is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Electrochemical Society, the National Academy of Inventors and the International Society of Electrochemistry.

Patterson Rockwood Professor of Energy at Harvard University

Daniel G. Nocera is recognized for his discoveries in renewable energy, originating new paradigms that have defined the field of solar energy conversion and storage. He is the inventor of the Artificial Leaf and the Bionic Leaf. Nocera He is a member of the American Philosophical Society, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and the Indian Academy of Sciences, and he is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry. He was named as 100 Most Influential People in the World by Time Magazine. He is a frequent guest on TV, radio and is regularly featured in print. His latest feature in Leonardo DiCaprio’s film, “Ice on Fire” premiered at Cannes Film Festival in May 2019 and was released internationally in June 2019.

Co-founder, Board Member and Education Chair of Black in Jewelry Coalition

Adrianne is an award-winning GIA Graduate Gemologist® (GG) and Graduate Pearl (GP) who advises, educates, and lectures across several platforms. Adrianne uses her gemology knowledge, enthusiasm, firsthand experiences, and collaborations, to write columns on gems and jewelry for industry publications such as Rapaport Magazine, Natural Diamond Council, The Jewelers Collective, and National Jeweler. When not doing all of the above, she dedicates time to mentoring and coaching gem and jewelry industry students and professionals.

CEO and General Counsel of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee

Tiffany Stevens is the CEO and General Councel of The Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC), a 105-year-old non-profit ethics organization serving the jewelry trade on all matters of legal and compliance issues. Tiffany currently serves on the Boards of the US Kimberely Process Authority, Women’s Jewelry Association Foundation, and CIBJO. She began her career as an attorney at Paul Hastings LLP in Los Angeles, later moving to in-house legal & leadership roles in both the private and public sectors. Tiffany is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma and NYU School of Law and a member of the California Bar Association.

Founder of ANZA Gems

ANZA Gems fuels development in Kenya and Tanzania through responsible gemstone purchasing with ten percent of sales supporting education and entrepreneurial initiatives in mining communities. She is a founding collaborator with NGOs Pact and the Tanzania Women Miners Association of Moyo Gems, which offers a traceable, supportive model to bring gems from women artisanal miners of Tanzania and Kenya to the international market. Monica is the President of the Board of Ethical Metalsmiths, and is on the international Board of Directors of the Women’s Jewelry Association, the Board of Directors for Gem Legacy, and an Advisory Board member of Black in Jewelry Coalition

SVP Strategy Development, De Beers Group

Esther is a seasoned leader, strategist, and board member with over 25 years of global experience. Currently serving as the SVP of Strategy Development for De Beers Group, she has played a pivotal role in the company since joining in 2002. Esther's expertise spans strategy, planning, insight, and analytics. She has been instrumental in shaping De Beers' approach to natural and lab-grown diamonds, as well as leading their groundbreaking insight generation program. As a Director of De Beers UK and former Board Chair, Esther's leadership has been recognized. Her background includes a law degree, specializing in intellectual property, and business partnerships, followed by strategy consulting with Booz&Co. She holds an MBA from London Business School.

Director of Marketing & Information Technology departments of Shree Ramkrishna Exports Pvt. Ltd. (SRK)

Shreyans Dholakia, Entrepreneur and Brand Custodian at Shree Ramkrishna Exports Pvt. Ltd. (SRK), a leading diamond industry company, is a second-generation entrepreneur with a Master's degree in Business Administration, he oversees the family business. Mr. Dholakia drives brand development and strategic planning at SRK, leveraging his expertise in Brand Management, Information Technology, and Artificial Intelligence. His leadership has fueled SRK's growth through strong partnerships and client connections. He empowers young talent, fostering a culture of creativity and innovation. With a resilient mindset of "Accept the change, Be the change," he aspires to set new benchmarks for SRK and establish it as a technology pioneer. Shreyans shares his father's commitment to community development and upholding a strong work culture, embodying SRK's renowned reputation.

Artist

Wallace Chan’s curiosity and thirst for knowledge have led to his creation of numerous innovations, such as The Wallace Cut (an illusionary three-dimensional carving technique invented in 1987), the mastery of titanium in Jewelry making, a patented jadeite luminosity-enhancing technology, andThe Wallace Chan Porcelain, a material five times stronger than steel. He has had solo exhibitions showcasing his works at Fondaco Marcello (Venice, 2021 & 2022), Canary Wharf (London, 2022), Christie’s (Shanghai, 2021), Asia House (London, 2019), Christie’s Gallery (Hong Kong, 2019), and GIA (Carlsbad, 2011). Chan has given talks and lectures at prestigious institutions, including The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Hong Kong, 2022), DIVA Museum (Antwerp, 2021), Tongji University (Shanghai, 2021), Christie’s (Shanghai, 2020 & 2021).

Rita J. Kaplan and Susan B. Kaplan Curator of Jewelry at the MFA, Boston

Emily oversees an extensive collection of objects of adornment spanning 6,000 years of human history. Stoehrer is an international presence in the jewelry field and has taught, lectured, and written extensively. Stoehrer has served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Society of North American Goldsmiths (2017–2020), is the spokesperson of the jewelry vetting committees for The European Fine Art Fairs (TEFAF), and is on the advisory board for New York City Jewelry Week. She holds a doctorate in humanities from Salve Regina University, a master’s degree in fashion and textile studies from the Fashion Institute of Technology, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Haute Couture jewelry designer and creative director

Alexandra is celebrated for her bespoke services and one-of-a-kind limited edition pieces sought after by red-carpet celebrities and collectors worldwide. With a passion for humanitarian causes, she integrates mindfulness and sustainability in her design, marketing, and branding strategies, propelling her to become a leading voice and advocate for collaborative global sustainability initiatives. As Creative Director for Vogue Italia's 'Protagonist' exhibition, she successfully unites designers, artists, and brands who share her vision of fine jewelry as a force for positive change in sustainability and cultural preservation. Her Journey's Collection reflects her inspirations and journeys across diverse cultures, including her Tagua-Seed capsule collection with Balinese artisans, and her current work in Africa with her Jewels of the Sahel collection, which is inspired to protect and sustain the world's indigenous cultural heritage awareness for dying craftsmanship and indigenous wisdom.

Jewelry Designer

Thelma is one of the most sought-after bespoke jewelry designers, known for her impeccable taste, visionary creativity, and unrelenting pursuit of excellence. With a career spanning over two decades, from Lagos to Antwerp and now London, Thelma has constantly pushed the boundaries, innovating and exploring new techniques and materials. She has mentored many aspiring designers, has been a vocal advocate for ethical sourcing and sustainable practices in the jewelry industry, and was one of the promoters behind the #HandInHand charity auction. Thelma's work has been featured in numerous exhibitions including Sotheby's 'Brilliant and Black' in both the US and the UK as well as Kensington Palace's current 'From crown to couture' show. Thelma was listed as one of "5 Women at the Heart of the Jewelry World" by the New York Times and one of "7 London-Based Jewelers Serious Collectors Should Know" by Robb Report. She has also been profiled in countless leading publications such as Business Insider, Forbes, Harper's Bazaar, Vanity Fair, Vogue US, Vogue UK.

President and CEO, Lucara Diamond

Ms. Thomas is a Canadian geologist with over twenty-five years of experience in the Canadian mining industry, including her previous roles as Vice President, Aber Resources, now Dominion Diamond Corp., CEO of Stornoway Diamond Corp., and CEO of Kaminak Gold Corporation. In 2007, Ms. Thomas founded Lucara Diamond Corporation, with partners Lukas Lundin and Catherine McLeod Seltzer; since February 2018, Ms. Thomas is President and CEO of the company. In 2008, Ms. Thomas was one of only four Canadians that year to be named to the “Young Global Leaders”, by the World Economic Forum. In 2007, she was selected as one of ‘Top 100 Canada’s Most Powerful Women’. Ms. Thomas is currently a director of Suncor Energy Inc. and is Suncor’s Chair of the Governance Committee.

Co-founder of New York City Jewelry Week (NYCJW)

Bella Neyman co-founded NYCJW, a city-wide celebration held annually in November. She is also an independent curator, lecturer, and writer specializing in contemporary jewelry. Most recently she served on the Curatorial Advisory Committee for "45 Stories in Jewelry: 1947 to Now" at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York. Since graduating with a Master’s Degree in Decorative Arts and Design History from Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum & Parsons, The New School for Design in 2008, she has worked for some of New York City’s leading design galleries. Bella’s articles have been published in The New York Times, American Craft, and the Magazine Antiques. She is also a frequent contributor to Metalsmith magazine. Bella lectures on topics related to the history of jewelry at the 92NY Jewelry Center and Christie’s Education. She is on the Board of Art Jewelry Forum.

Director of Sustainable Markets at Pact

Pact is a global nonprofit organization at work in 40 countries. She is a global expert in responsible mineral sourcing and has extensive work experience across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. She is best known for her specialty in jewelry and as co-founder of Moyo Gems, a responsible miner to market initiative focused on the women miners of East Africa. Her work or commentary has been featured in Vogue, The Financial Times, New York Times, The Guardian, Forbes, Wired, JCK, Rapaport, and more. In 2021, she won The IAC Award for Leadership in Responsible Practice in Jewelry.

Advocacy director of the Children’s Rights Division at Human Rights Watch

For the past twenty years, Jo has carried out research and advocacy on children’s rights, with a particular focus on children and armed conflict and child labor, with a particular focus on hazardous child labor in gold mining and the tobacco sector. Her field investigations have encompassed work in Burma, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Morocco, Nepal, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Uganda, and the United States. She is co-author of The Hidden Cost of Jewelry: Human Rights in Supply Chains and the Responsibility of Jewelry Companies (2018) and Sparkling Jewels, Opaque Supply Chains: Jewelry Companies, Changing Sourcing Practices, and Covid-19 (2020). In addition to her work at Human Rights Watch, she is also an adjunct associate professor of international and public affairs at Columbia University.

Executive Director - Five6 Consulting

Marcus ter Haar is an experienced diamond industry executive, well-versed in sectors across the value chain. Previously the Managing Director of the Okavango Diamond Company, he began his career with De Beers and moved into DTC and Debswana in Botswana. He has extensive knowledge in governance matters and serves on several private sector and not for profit boards including the international luxury-tourism company Wilderness Holdings, Diamonds Do Good, and the Lady Khama Charitable Trust. Mr. ter Haar joined the GIA Board of Governors in November 2021.

Founder and owner of Prosperity Earth

Prosperity Earth, a vertically-integrated mining and gem-cutting company is a world leader in traceable and sustainable colored gemstone mining; Prosperity Earth brings world-class products to market and prosperity to communities through full-time on-the-ground presence with professionalized mining. In Madagascar since 2008, a Harvard graduate – BA cum laude ’98 – and alum of Harvard Business School’s Program for Leadership Development ‘12 – John proudly introduces this incomparable, beautiful gemstone – Prosperity DEMANTOID. John was CEO of an award-winning Madagascar chocolate and vanilla company, and prior spent a decade on Wall St notably as Managing Director at Merrill Lynch

Dwight P. Robinson Jr. Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School.

Dennis W. Campbell is the Dwight P. Robinson Jr. Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School. His research and teaching focus on management control systems, organizational culture, and strategy execution. He explores how leaders can use formal systems to shape culture and innovation, especially in the context of digital technology and AI-driven business models. He has extensive experience studying these topics domestically and internationally, publishing case studies in various industries. Campbell holds a doctorate from Harvard Business School and previously worked at the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve. He also served as a research fellow at the Filene Research Institute and currently serves on the board of the Harvard University Employees Credit Union.

Research Senior Manager, Deloitte Center for Government Insights

Joe Mariani leads the emerging technologies research program for Deloitte’s Center for Government Insights. His research focuses on the intersection of culture and innovation in both commercial businesses and government organizations. Joe has testified before Congress on the impact of emerging technology on government, and his work has appeared in publications including the National Academy of Sciences, World Economic Forum, US News & World Report, Wall Street Journal, and more. His previous experience includes work as a consultant to defense and intelligence organizations, high school science teacher, and Marine Corps intelligence officer.

Executive Director at Women's Jewelry Association

Jennifer has a successful career spanning the not-for-profit and creative sectors. She began as a financial analyst at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and later managed business operations for Thomas Phifer & Partners, an NYC-based architecture firm. Jennifer founded Damsels in Design, an organization empowering women, and served as its Founder and Programming Director, organizing almost 200 in-person events and growing a membership base of 2,000 women creatives in NYC. She managed $80 million in annual giving at Citibank Foundation, supporting financial access and entrepreneurship, and collaborated on sustainability and human rights initiatives. At Tiffany & Co., Jennifer led sustainability reporting, philanthropic impact assessments, and Tiffany & Co. Foundation activities. Currently, she is leading the Women's Jewelry Association and Foundation, launching a charitable fund focused on responsible sourcing, expanding educational programs, and enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Jennifer's achievements include mentoring young professionals and receiving the New York Business Journal's Women of Influence award in 2016.

Vice President of The London Diamond Bourse, Director of Salotro Ltd and member of the Young Diamantaires

David Troostwyk began his diamond journey 20 years ago by establishing a rough diamond-buying office in Africa, supporting local miners. He then gained valuable experience in Antwerp, working for Sightholders and building his diamond knowledge and industry connections. This led him to collaborate with top jewelry houses, becoming an expert in meeting their diamond buying needs. In 2008, David launched the first online electronic diamond exchange, DODAQ, while based in Antwerp. He later founded Salotro, a diamond trading company in the UK. David joined the London Diamond Bourse in 2011 and currently serves as Vice President. Additionally, he became a member of The Young Diamantaires in 2016, contributing to the group's goal of positively impacting the diamond trade through networking and knowledge-sharing. With his extensive expertise across the diamond pipeline, David focuses on nurturing the next generation of diamantaires in both organizations.

social:@salotro

Teacher at the European Institute of Design (IED), Forbes Under 30 and Founder Donna Jewel

Laura Inghirami is the founder of Donna Jewel. Her mission is to communicate the beauty and excellence in the world of jewelry, expressing the value of stories of master artisans, emerging talents and great Maison with a cultural, modern and joyful tone of voice to bring the young generation closer to the industry. Selected by Forbes Italia as one of the 100 Under30 leaders of the future, Laura is teacher in Management of Jewelry Design in Italy at IED (European Institute of Design ), journalist and specialized consultant for tailor-made projects in the digital and communication fields for the jewelry industry.

Social: @laurainghirami @donna.jewel