FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference Returns to Downtown in 2025 with Brandee Dallow as Master of Ceremonies

Chicago, IL – The ninth annual Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference (CRJC) will take place October 17–18, 2025, at Film Row Cinema in downtown Chicago, bringing together global leaders dedicated to advancing a just, sustainable, and transparent jewelry industry. The conference is pleased to announce the appointment of noted industry advocate Brandee Dallow as the new Master of Ceremonies.

Ms. Dallow, a recognized advocate and accomplished moderator, is widely respected for her ability to engage audiences, facilitate meaningful discussions, and amplify diverse perspectives. Her leadership at CRJC 2025 is expected to enhance the quality of dialogue, ensuring sessions remain insightful, solution-oriented, and accessible to both industry insiders and broader stakeholders.

The conference, long recognized for its integrity and its history of bringing critical, often overlooked issues to the forefront of the jewelry sector, will continue this tradition of exemplary leadership in 2025. The program will feature rigorously researched panels addressing topics such as “Human Rights and Environmental Realities of Silver Mining,” a moderated discussion titled “Natural Diamonds and Community Futures: A Shared Goal of Benefaction” between a natural diamond organization (to be announced soon) and the Kimberley Process Civil Society Coalition, as well as “Shadows in the Supply Chain: Mine-to-Market Consequences of Undisclosed Synthetic Gemstones.” Breakout sessions will provide opportunities for speed mentoring with leading voices in ethical jewelry—spanning retail, NGOs, suppliers, and jewelers—while sector-specific think tanks will foster collaborative, solution-driven dialogue.

The conference will also host the popular Responsible Gem Boutique on October 16, where attendees can connect directly with brands leading the way in responsible sourcing and explore traceable gemstones.

The Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference is an initiative of the Responsible Jewelry Transformative (RJT), with all proceeds supporting RJT’s pioneering programs. RJT has delivered tangible benefits to source communities and driven systemic change across the jewelry industry—supporting sustainable livelihoods through initiatives like the Marange Women’s Alliance chicken coops in Zimbabwe, producing awareness projects that elevate the voices of miners, spearheading the fight against sex trafficking in mining areas, and advancing policies that ensure those at the very beginning of the supply chain are represented in shaping a more equitable future.

Conference founder Susan Wheeler will join Ms. Dallow in opening CRJC 2025, which is expected to bring together miners, designers, retailers, industry corporations, NGOs, activists, academics, and trade organizations from around the globe. Together, these participants will advance the work of building a responsible future for jewelry—anchored in accountability, collaboration, and meaningful change.

Date & Location
October 17-18, 2025
Film Row Cinema, Downtown Chicago

Master of Ceremonies
Brandee Dallow, Industry Advocate & Accomplished Moderator

Featured Panels

• "Human Rights and Environmental Realities of Silver Mining"

• "Natural Diamonds and Community Futures: A Shared Goal of Benefaction"

• "Shadows in the Supply Chain: Mine-to-Market Consequences of Undisclosed Synthetic Gemstones"

Additional Programming

• Responsible Gem Boutique (October 16)

• Speed Mentoring Sessions

• Sector-Specific Think Tanks

About CRJC
The Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference is a project of the Responsible Jewelry Transformative, a nonprofit organization, dedicated to advancing transparency, sustainability, and human rights across the global jewelry supply chain by bringing together diverse stakeholders to confront critical industry challenges and drive systemic change.

Download Logos and Branding Content HERE

Founded in 2017, by Susan Wheeler, the Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference (CRJC) is the premier international forum for advancing transparency, sustainability, and human rights in the jewelry sector. Each year, CRJC brings together miners, designers, retailers, corporations, NGOs, activists, and academics to confront urgent challenges and accelerate systemic, impactful change across the global supply chain.

The Responsible Jewelry Transformative (RJT) is a nonprofit dedicated to creating lasting, equitable change in the jewelry industry and its source communities. Through initiatives such as the Marange Women’s Alliance chicken coops in Zimbabwe, awareness campaigns amplifying miners’ voices, and spearheading the fight against sex trafficking in mining areas, RJT has become a force for meaningful reform. RJT continues to drive systemic change by ensuring that those at the beginning of the supply chain are recognized, respected, and supported in shaping a fairer and more responsible future for jewelry. HERE IS A LINK TO THE RJT WEBSITE