8:45 a.m.

2023 Schedule

9:15 a.m.

Friday, Aug. 11, 2023

Continental Breakfast & Networking

9:00 am

Conference Opening

Introduction to Incorporating the UN SDGs and Un Women Goals into Your Jewelry Journey

Susan Wheeler, Advisor for the Fashion and Lifestyle Network, a joint initiative of the UN Office for Partnerships, the Division for Sustainable Development Goals - UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, and the Fashion Impact Fund. Responsible Jewelry Transformative/UN Women Action Coalition Generation Equality Commitment Maker.

10:00 a.m.

Opening Markets for Artisanal Gemstone Miners

Moderated by Anna Samsonova | Samsonova Consulting. Speakers: Sejal Karavadia, Director of Procurement and Vendor Management | Brilliant Earth; Cristina Villegas, Director | PACT Mine to Market; Jessica Hudson, Founding Partner | Virtu Gem, Owner/Designer | VIPAKA Jewelry and Founder | The Nomad Jeweler; and Pauline Mundia, Ambassador | Virtu Gem Zambia, Vice President | Federation of Small Scale Mining Associations of Zambia and African Women in Mining Association-Southern African Chapter

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.

11:00 a.m.

Deep Sea Mining

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

There is growing interest in sourcing minerals, including gold and silver from the deep seabed. While 3 different ecosystems are being targeted for minerals exploration, mining these systems creates many harmful environmental impacts including direct mortality, changes in chemistry, suspended sediment plumes, release of toxic chemicals, noise, light and vibration which is cause for concern for the jewelry industry. At present there is very limited protection of these unique and fragile ecosystems, which occur both within national and international waters, and there are many gaps in scientific knowledge that prevent effective management of mining in the deep sea. This session will explore the risks that have led to calls from states, scientists, civil society and businesses for a moratorium on deep-seabed mining.

Noon - 1:30 p.m.

Lunch Break

1:30 p.m.

Responsible Silver

Moderated by Holly McHugh, VP of Sustainability | Mejuri, Inc. Panelists: Mark Hanna, Chief Marketing Officer | Richline Group; Will Nevins-Alderfer | WR Metal Arts; and Torry Hoover, President | Hoover & Strong

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.

2:30 p.m.

The African Union's Africa Mining Vision

Presentation by Mkhululi Nkosilamandla Ncube, Programmes Officer | African Minerals Development Centre (AMDC), Department of Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals (ETTIM), African Union Commission

“Transparent, equitable and optimal exploitation of mineral resources to underpin broad-based sustainable growth and socio-economic development” It is Africa's own response to tackling the paradox of great mineral wealth existing side by side with pervasive poverty. What does the African mining vision hold for jewelry interest in diamonds, gold and gemstones?

3:45 p.m.

Moderated by Brandee Dallow, Chief Communications & Sustainability Officer | Grandview Klein Diamonds. Panelists: Abigail Sibanda, Gender Focal Person | Marange Women’s Alliance (MWA); and Susan Wheeler

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.

Sex Trafficking in Marange Zimbabwe

5:00 p.m.

Onsite Cocktail Reception

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

Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023

8:45 a.m.

Continental Breakfast & Networking

9:00 a.m.

An Introduction to Ethical Metalsmiths Students and So Fresh + So Clean Student Exhibition Winners of 2023

9:15 a.m.

Responsible Retail

Speaker: Anna Bario, Co-Founder + Designer | Bario Neal

How to incorporate the mission of responsible jewelry into the DNA of your brand.

10:15 a.m.

Source Country Traders in the Gemstone Supply Chain

Shannon Kurzyniec and Chelsea Rowe, Members of the Ethical Metalsmiths Student Committee and Graduate Students | Virginia Commonwealth University

Moderated by Brecken Branstrator | Gem World. Panelists: Eric Braunwart, Founder, Columbia Gem House; Chiko Manda, Ambassador | Virtu Gem Malaw, Managing Director | Perekezi ASM Consultants; Ola Erogbogbo-Oyeniyi, Co-Founder and CEO | Deinte Designs Limited; Stuart Pool, Owner | Nineteen48; Pauline Mundia, Ambassador | Virtu Gem Zambia, Vice President | Federation of Small Scale Mining Associations of Zambia and African Women in Mining Association-Southern African Chapter; and Susan Wheeler, Founding Partner | Virtu Gem

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.

10:15 a.m.

Gold and Agriculture

Moderated by Andrea Hill. Panelists: Laura Galvis | Alliance for Responsible Mining; and Roy Maconachie, Professor of Natural Resources and Development | Dept. of Social and Policy Sciences, University of Bath

This session will highlight the positive initiatives in ASM gold mining and bring an awareness of the close relationship and interactions between mining and farming. Anecdotal insight and visuals of working agriculture at gold mines will shed light on the possibilities of low environmental and social impact of ASM gold mining, and how these initiatives bring positive and more sustainable development to rural mining communities.

Noon - 1:30 p.m.

Lunch & Breakout Session

1:30 p.m.

Russian Sanctions

Speakers: Sara Yood, Deputy General Counsel | Jewelers Vigilance Committee; and Andrea Hill, CEO |Hill Management Group | Werx Brands

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.

2:15 p.m.

Initiatives Clinic

We will break out into groups where participants will talk about how to apply UN SDGs to initiatives to help improve transparency in jewelry supply chains. Let’s get the conversation started!

Migration and Minerals: The Impact of our supply chain on the global movements of people

3:15 P.m.

Speaker: Saleem Ali, Distinguished Professor of Geography and member of UN International Resource Panel | University of Delaware

As the lead author of the recently released report from the United Nations International Resource Panel on Human Migration and Natural Resources, Saleem will share some of our findings with reference to mineral rushes and migration flows to and from
such areas.

4:00 p.m.

Casting a Wider Net: Responsibly Sourced Designs Inspiring Consumer Engagement

Moderated by Natasha Braunwart, Brand & Corporate Social Responsibility Manager | Columbia Gem House. Panelists: Hannah Smythe, Founder/Designer | Toast Fine Jewelry and DEH Jewelry Solutions; Megan Cochran, Founder/Designer | Megan Cochran Jewelry Design; and Eric Braunwart, Founder | Columbia Gem House

There are various elements along the supply chain that make up responsible sourcing; one of which is the environment. In this discussion, we will take a deeper look at the 2023 Responsibly Sourced Design Challenge and how it has grown into a larger fundraising project. Hear from some of the participating designers on their inspirations and design process. We will touch on sustainable pearls, impacts on wildlife, and how responsibly sourced designs can inspire consumer engagement..

Purchase the 2023 Virtual Replay

Speakers

Abigail Sibanda

Gender Focal Person | Marange Women’s Alliance (MWA)
Andrea Hill

CEO |Hill Management Group | Werx Brands
Anna Bario

Co-Founder + Designer | Bario Neal
Anna Samsonova

Samsonova Consulting
Brian Cook

Founder | Nature's Geometry
Brandee Dallow

Chief Communications & Sustainability Officer | Grandview Klein Diamond
Brecken Branstrator

Editor-in-Chief | GemGuide
Chelsea Rowe

Graduate Student | Virginia Commonwealth University
Chikomeni Manda

Partner | Perekezi ASM Consultants
Cristina Villegas

Director | PACT Mine to Markets
Douglas Neves

Cruzeiro, Heritage | Mine
Eric Braunwart

Founder | Columbia Gem House
Hannah Smythe

Founder/Designer | Toast
Holly McHugh

VP Sustainability | Mejuri, Inc.
Jay Moncada

Owner | Perpetuum Jewels
Jessica Hudson

Owner and Designer | VIPĀKA Jewelry, Founder | The Nomad Jeweler
Laura Galvis

Market Development Officer | Responsible Mining (ARM) and Fairmined
Lisa Levin

Professor Emerita | Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego
Mark Hanna

Chief Marketing Officer | Richline Group
Megan Cochran

Founder/Designer | Megan Cochran Jewelry Design
Mkhululi Nkosilamandla Ncube

Programmes Officer | African Minerals Development Centre (AMDC)
Natasha Braunwart

Brand & Corporate Social Responsibility Manager | Columbia Gem House
Ola Erogbogbo

Owner/Jewelry Designer | Deinte Fine Jewelry
Pauline Mundia

Vice President | Federation of Small Scale Mining Associations of Zambia and African Women in Mining Association-Southern African Chapter
Roy Maconachie

Professor of Natural Resources and Development | Dept. of Social and Policy Sciences, University of Bath
Saleem Ali

Distinguished Professor of Geography and member of UN International Resource Panel | University of Delaware
Sara Yood

Deputy General Counsel | Jewelers Vigilance
Sejal Karavadia

Director, Procurement and Vendor Management | Brilliant Earth
Shannon Kurzyniec

Graduate Student | Virginia Commonwealth University
Stuart Pool

Owner | Nineteen48
Susan Wheeler

Founder | Responsible Jewelry Transformative | Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference | Susan Wheeler Design
Torry Hoover

President | Hoover & Strong
Will Nevins-Alderfer

Owner and Founder | W.R. Metalarts

In 2015, World Leaders Agreed to 17 Global Goals

We have made progress, but there is still work to be done, and the Goals are more important than ever. The climate crisis. Ensuring no one goes hungry. Human rights abuses. Extreme poverty. Problems of this scale can be overwhelming, but the Global Goals (also known as the Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs) are the solution to tackling them.

Learn more

Thank You to Our Generous 2023 Sponsors

The Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference would not be possible without the financial and operational support of our sponsors. All sponsorships help us secure visas, travel, and accommodations for our speakers and panelists who come from out of the country. We have all levels of sponsorships available, which is an excellent way to contribute to the responsible jewelry cause regardless of business size.