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Inaugural Conference - 2017

The first Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference took place on October 13-14, 2017.  The brainchild of Susan Wheeler, the conference was launched to create an experience where members of the jewelry industry could gather and share information, ideas, resources, and knowledge about how to create more responsible jewelry and run more responsible businesses.

Susan Wheeler

Robin Gambhir

Orin Mazzonni

Christina Miller

Stewart Grice

Andrea Hill

Friday, October 13, 2017

8:30 AM: Continental Breakfast

9:00 AM:  Kickoff and Opening Comments

9:15 AM: Shared Keynote - Mark Hanna, Alexandra Hart

10:15 AM: Jewelry Designer Panel. Moderator: Melissa Quick. Participants: Susan Crow, Susan Wheeler, Alexandra Hart, Monica Stephenson, Debra Navarro.

11:30 PM: Eric Braunwart. The Move Towards Responsible Cutting in Gemstones

12:15-1:30 PM — Lunch Break 

1:30 PM: Stewart Grice. Responsible Sourced Artisanal Gold: A Tour of Two Peruvian Mining Communities

2:30 PM: In Conversation - Cristina Villegas, Monica Stephenson. A discussion of worldwide mining practices, initiatives, and progress

3:30 PM: Vendor Area and Networking   

4:15 PM: Samuel Shiroff. How the World’s Largest Retailer of Diamond Jewelry Tackles Responsible Sourcing

6:00-8:00 PM: Cocktail Party

Saturday, October 14, 2017

8:30 AM: Continental Breakfast

9:00 AM: Patricia Syvrud. Responsible Sourcing in the Diamond Pipeline: What does that look like?

10:00 PM: Power Panel on Jewelry Industry Initiatives for Responsible Practices. Moderated by Susan Wheeler. Panelists: Toby Pomeroy, Brian Cook, Elizabeth Orlando, Pat Syvrud, Susan Wheeler, Cristina Villegas.

11:45 PM: Robin Gambhir.  Who Cares? Adventures in Responsible Sourcing & Retailing.

12:30-1:30 PM: Lunch Break

1:30 PM: Christina Miller, Benediction. There’s Always a Way: Stories to Inspire

2:30 PM: Screening of "Sharing the Rough"

3:45 PM: Film Discussion with Producer/Director Orin Mazzoni and Monica Stephenson.

5:00-6:00 PM: Cocktail Reception

Sharing the Rough, a documentary by Orin Mazzoni, will screen this year at the Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference! The film follows the travels of a gem from mine to market while exploring the challenges of an emerging miningSharing the Rough, a documentary by Orin Mazzoni, will screen this year at the Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference! The film follows the travels of a gem from mine to market while exploring the challenges of an emerging miningeconomy. The screening will be immediately followed by a conversation with Producer/Director Orrin Mazzoni and ANZA Gems’ Monica Stephenson.