Welcome to the conference with Andrea Hill, CEO |Hill Management Group | Werx Brands; and Susan Wheeler, Founder | Responsible Jewelry Transformative | Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference | Susan Wheeler Design

Speaker: Chiko Manda, Managing Director | Perekezi ASM Consultants & Events

What do the exports of aquamarine from Malawi tell us about value and market access for artisanal and small-scale mines in the colored gemstone trade? Aquamarine is largely exported in the rough from source countries. The parcels sold to gem dealers are mixed with many grades of gem material, from commercial grade to the finest gemstones that could sell on the international market for thousands of dollars. How can we make the value chain more equitable for every person who participates in it?

Speakers: Sejal Karavadia, Director of Procurement and Vendor Management | Brilliant Earth; Anna Samsonova, Samsonova Consulting; and others TBA

While many of the colored gemstones mined come from artisanal and small-scale mines, the demands from large buyers in the name of compliance leave little room for true allocation of value for this important segment of the jewelry supply chain. Sharing the knowledge of what markets require to be successful and compete on equal footing is a way forward for the inclusion of miners worldwide. The GIA education program to help miners identify their stones, information sharing from Gem World to gemstone valuation, and guidance in buying expectations have paved the way to a more equitable supply chain for colored gemstones.

Speakers: Lisa Levin, Professor | Scripps Institution of Oceanography | UC San Diego

Description coming soon.

Speakers: Mark Hanna, Chief Marketing Officer | Richline Group; Will Nevins-Alderfer | WR Metal Arts; and others TBA

For the first time in the jewelry industry, we will address the issues around responsible silver sourcing. The origins of silver are complex, as it is extracted as a by-product of mining for many other minerals including copper, lead, zinc, and gold. Silver mines are located in the US, China, Mexico, Morocco, and across the Americas. The issues are many ranging from mercury in mining to the assassination of human rights defenders, but there are fewer risks than gold in many other areas, including less money laundering and more compliant large-scale mines. The silver jewelry market is on fire. We need to begin the conversation about silver.

Moderated by Brandee Dallow. Panelists: Abigail Sibanda, General Focal Person | Marange Women’s Alliance (MWA); and others TBD

Can using a woman as a token gain you access to mine for diamonds illegally? Yes. Sex trafficking and sex work are, unfortunately, acceptable norms in mines worldwide.

Join us for light refreshments as we relax and catch up.

A session with Shannon Kurzyniec and Chelsea Rowe, members of the Ethical Metalsmiths Student Committee and graduate students at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia.

Speakers: Thabo Lerotholi, Attorney | Maseru (Visa Pending); Hans Merket, Researcher | International Peace Information Service (IPIS); and others TBA

Between 2021-23 there were three major tailings pond spills at diamond mines. To protect the industry, we need to understand what we can do to stop this growing environmental and human rights risk and help the communities that are still suffering.

Speakers: Moderated by Brecken Branstrator | Gem World. Panelists: Eric Braunwart, Founder, Columbia Gem House; and others TBA

The colored gemstone supply chain is often described as complex, opaque, and impossible to trace, but it doesn't need to be that way. Forging business relationships with source country traders can facilitate the traceability and compliance that the jewelry industry is looking for and offer breathing room to focus on lifting mining communities and source country business infrastructures.

Speakers: Laura Galvis | Alliance for Responsible Mining; Roy Maconachie, Professor of Natural Resources and Development | Dept. of Social and Policy Sciences, University of Bath; and others TBA

Description coming soon.

Speakers: Sara Yood, Deputy General Counsel | Jewelers Vigilance Committee; and others TBA

As the war against Ukraine continues, the US continues to fight the war through sanctions that directly and powerfully hit the jewelry industry. The only way forward for the industry is to completely change our direction and control the path that our diamonds and gold take to reach the bench. We will discuss how this can be done, and what you need to know to assist our government in the fight to help Ukraine and obey the law. No organization can take responsibility for you.

Speakers: Saleem Ali, Chair, Dept. of Geography & Spatial Sciences | University of Delaware; and others TBA

Description coming soon.