Boldly Building the Future:
Gold, Diamonds, and Jewelry in a Transformational Age
IAC’s 12th Annual Gold + Diamond Conference
July 18 – 20, 2022
Bohemian National Hall
321 E 73rd St, New York, NY
In its 12th annual Gold + Diamond Conference, IAC took a deep dive into critical issues in responsible practice, sustainability, luxury, and artisanry.
We face, on the one hand, imperatives articulated in the UN SDGs and in the outcomes of COP 26. And on the other, an ever-present and evolving need to preserve the magic, romance, and emotional power of gold, diamonds, and jewelry.
This tension was the focus of the 2022 Gold + Diamond Conference.
Through podium presentations, panel discussions, and conversations we explored the following:
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- Climate change and planning for the future
- Responsible sourcing and best practices at the interface of LSM and ASM
- Defining luxury in an age of responsible practice
- Artistry, vision, and practice in contemporary jewelry
- Training jewelers and goldsmiths for the future
- Succession planning and ensuring the future in the jewelry and precious metals sector
- Comparative approaches to achieving better outcomes in ASM
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The Conference kicked off on July 18 with an evening event honoring women of accomplishment in the jewelry industry to take place at CADAR, the New York City-based fine jewelry line designed by Michal Kadar. During the Conference, IAC will again present two major awards: the Award for Leadership in Responsible Practice and the Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Diamond and Jewelry Industries. Prior recipients of the Award for Leadership have included Toby Pomeroy (Mercury Free Mining), Feriel Zerouki (DeBeers Group), Anisa Costa (Tiffany & Co. and the Tiffany & Co. Foundation), Robert Weldon (GIA), and Cristina Villegas (Pact). In 2021, the inaugural recipient of the Outstanding Contributions Award was World Diamond Council President Edward Asscher.
Program agenda
Monday, July 18, 2022
| 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. | Opening evening honoring women of accomplishment in the jewelry industry
CADAR Remarks, Jean Z. Poh, CEO, CADAR |
Tuesday, July 19, 2022
| 8:30 – 9:00 a.m. | Registration and coffee | |
| 9:00 – 9:20 a.m. | Introduction: “Why Are We Here?” Lisa Koenigsberg (President / Founder, Initiatives in Art and Culture) |
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| 9:20 – 9:30 a.m. | Opening remarks Mark Hanna (CMO, Richline Group) |
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| 9:30 – 10:50 a.m. | Climate change and planning for the future Moderator—Mark Hanna (CMO, Richline Group)
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| 10:50 – 11:05 a.m. | Break | |
| 11:05 – 11:25 a.m. | Case studies in mercury elimination Cassie Hoffman (Conservation X Labs) & Toby Pomeroy (Mercury Free Mining Challenge) |
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| 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | “Origin”: Where do your gold and diamonds come from and why does it matter? Moderator—Rob Bates (News Editor, JCK)
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| 1:00 – 2:15 p.m. | Luncheon | |
| 2:15 – 3:15 p.m. | Succession: Transition and ensuring the future in the jewelry and precious metals sectors Moderator—Brandee Dallow (Founder, Fine Girl Luxury Brand Building & Communications)
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| 3:15 – 3:30 p.m. | Break | |
| 3:30 – 4:40 p.m. | Mining in the ASM sector: Design and adaptation of best practices Moderator—Brecken Branstrator (Senior Editor, Gemstones, National Jeweler)
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| 4:45 – 5:30 p.m. | Keynote conversation Facing forward: Update from the Kimberley Process and World Diamond Council Edward Asscher (President, World Diamond Council) |
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| 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. | Evening celebration Presentation of Initiatives in Art and Culture’s awards for Leadership in Responsible Practice and Outstanding Contributions to the Diamond and Jewelry Industries |
Wednesday, July 20, 2022
| 9:20 – 9:30 a.m. | Welcoming remarks | |
| 9:30 – 10:45 a.m. | Global expectations: Language, legislation, regulation, and transformation Moderator—Mark Hanna (CMO, Richline)
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| 10:45 – 11:00 a.m. | Break | |
| 11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. | Responsible sourcing and best practice at the interface of LSM and ASM Moderator—Christian Sieber (consultant, Valcambi)
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| 12:15 – 1:30 p.m. | Luncheon | |
| 1:30 – 2:00 p.m. | Matters of principle and practice: Towards an industry roadmap to sustainability John Mulligan (Director of Market Relations & Climate Change Lead, World Gold Council & President, Sustainable Development Commission, CIBJO – World Jewellery Confederation) |
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| 2:05 – 3:10 p.m. | Training goldsmiths and jewelers for the future Moderator—Christina Miller (Christina T. Miller Sustainable Jewelry Consultants)
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| 3:15 – 3:45 p.m. | Principles in practice: The Scottish Goldsmiths Trust’s Ethical Making Pledge Ebba Goring (Chief Executive, Scottish Goldsmiths Trust), Karen Westland (Ethical Making Programme Manager, The Scottish Goldsmiths Trust) |
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| 3:45 – 4:00 p.m. | Break | |
| 4:00 – 4:45 p.m. | Drawing on heritage and artisanry for jewellery for our time Alice Cicolini (jewellery designer and curator) |
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| 4:45 – 5:30 p.m. | Determining the Belperron of the future: who, how, and why?
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