2018 Conference

By the time October, 2018 rolled around, the international community working on responsible practices in jewelry materials was excited to jump on board. The second conference was a truly international conference, filled with voices from the communities that are most affected at the beginning of the jewelry supply chains (it helped that in year 2 we knew how long to allow for visa applications!).

The second year was an exciting leap forward for what was quickly becoming a community.

Friday, October 19, 2018

Friday 8:45 AM: Continental Breakfast & Networking

9:00 AM: Kickoff and Opening Comments by Susan Wheeler, Conference Founder

9:15 AM: Keynote by Mark Hanna, VP, Richline Group

10:05 AM: Rolberto Alvarez, Owner of Mina Gualconda, Columbia with Conny Havel, Head of Fairmined Supply Chains & Markets

10:55 AM: The Gem Cutting Panel - Eric Braunwart, Columbia Gem House; Brandee Dallow, RJC; Maarten de Witte, American Diamond Cutter; Dharmendra Tank, Heeralal Chhagganlal Tank; Patricia Mweene and Inonge Zita, Zambian Gemstones; Rachel Hill, Americut Gems

12:15 PM: Brown Bag Lunch and Break-Out Session with Mark Hanna on TrustChain for All

1:35 PM: Sarah Caven, Dragonfly Initiative; Brian Cook, The Bahia Brazil Golden Initiative and Nature’s Geometry

2:40 PM: Gem Boutique and Networking

3:15 PM: US Premier: River of Gold. Q&A follows with Sarah duPont, Producer/Amazon Aid Foundation; Susan Egan Keane, Natural Resources Defense Counsel; and Nigel Pitman, Chicago Field Museum. Moderator: Christina Miller

Cocktail Party follows On Site

Event MC: Andrea Hill, Hill Management Group

Saturday, October 20, 2018

9:00 AM: Continental Breakfast and Networking

9:45 AM: Jewelry Designer Panel - Jennifer Dawes, Jennifer Dawes Design; Francesco Belloni, Ethical Jewels in Milan, Italy; Anna Bario, Bario Neal; Helene Grassin, Paulette a Bicyclette; Moderator: Alexandra Hart, President Ethical Metalsmiths and Designer/Goldsmith.

10:50 AM: Joanne Lebert, IMPACT

11:40 AM: Glenn Lehre, the Colourful Life Foundation

12:25 PM: Lunch and Networking. Visit the Gem Boutique!

1:30 PM: Gemstone Mining Panel - Salma Kundi Ernest, Tanzanian Women’s Mining Association; Stuart Pool, Ninteen48, Rubyfair, Crown Gems, and Fair Luxury; Cristina Villegas, PACT, Norbert Massay, PACT; Moderated by Monica Stephenson, ANZA Gems

2:35 PM: Robert Weldon, GIA

3:20 PM: Gem Boutique and Networking

4:05 PM: Yianni Melas, The Gem Explorer, Greece

5:15 - 7:00 PM: Cocktail Party, Steve Quick Jeweler

Narrated by Academy Award winners Sissy Spacek and Herbie Hancock, River of Gold is the disturbing account of a clandestine journey into Peru’s Amazon rainforest to uncover the savage unraveling of pristine jungle. Discussion led by film producer Sarah duPont of the Amazon Aid Foundation.