Events & AwardsJul 13, 2026
Registration Opens for JIS Fall 2026 ShowEvents & AwardsJul 14, 2026
Conference on Mining, Sustainability Kicks Off in NYC
Initiatives in Art and Culture is hosting its 16th annual Gold and Diamond Conference, with the theme of “Resilience.”
An aerial view of the Amazon rainforest. Initiatives in Art and Culture is hosting its 16th annual Gold and Diamond Conference this week, which will include a session on artisan and small-scale gold mining in the Amazon Basin.
New York—Initiatives in Art and Culture (IAC) is hosting its 16th annual Gold and Diamond Conference this week.
The event is being held at The Cosmopolitan Club in New York City from July 13-15 and features speakers and panelists from all facets of the jewelry industry.
This year’s theme is “Resilience,” with organizers highlighting how the jewelry industry can adapt and thrive amid global uncertainty.
“Resilience is clearly the quality most necessary to navigate and right the ship during such tumult,” said Lisa Koenigsberg, president and founder of IAC.
“We are honored to welcome an international roster of authoritative experts from refineries to heritage houses, individual makers to miners, to consider building resilience for an unpredictable future, and to pursue a vision that sees greatness within rather than as something lost to be regained.”
On Tuesday, the day begins at 8:30 a.m., with sessions running from 9:15 a.m. to 4:50 p.m., followed by closing remarks by Koenigsberg.
Session highlights include “CIBJO – IAC Session: AI and Intellectual Property” from 11 to 11:55 a.m., moderated by Koenigsberg.
Panelists are Sara Yood, president, CEO and general counsel, Jewelers Vigilance Committee; David Berdugo, CEO, Caratwise; Margaret Welsh, partner at Baker Hostetler and co-chair of the firm’s artificial intelligence team; and Jeremy Shepherd, CEO and founder, Pearl Paradise and president, Pearl Association of America.
“Resilience in the Diamond Landscape” will be held from 12 to 12:55 p.m.
Panelists include Raj Mehta, CEO and managing director of Spectrum B.V.; Jade Trau, fifth-generation diamantaire and fine jewelry designer; Emmy Kondo, strategy consultant at Natural Diamond Initiative, De Beers Group; Mark Klein, vice president of Julius Klein Diamonds; and Daniel Rose, vice president, diamond sourcing, Jared.
Related stories will be right here …
The event is being held at The Cosmopolitan Club in New York City from July 13-15 and features speakers and panelists from all facets of the jewelry industry.
This year’s theme is “Resilience,” with organizers highlighting how the jewelry industry can adapt and thrive amid global uncertainty.
“Resilience is clearly the quality most necessary to navigate and right the ship during such tumult,” said Lisa Koenigsberg, president and founder of IAC.
“We are honored to welcome an international roster of authoritative experts from refineries to heritage houses, individual makers to miners, to consider building resilience for an unpredictable future, and to pursue a vision that sees greatness within rather than as something lost to be regained.”
On Tuesday, the day begins at 8:30 a.m., with sessions running from 9:15 a.m. to 4:50 p.m., followed by closing remarks by Koenigsberg.
Session highlights include “CIBJO – IAC Session: AI and Intellectual Property” from 11 to 11:55 a.m., moderated by Koenigsberg.
Panelists are Sara Yood, president, CEO and general counsel, Jewelers Vigilance Committee; David Berdugo, CEO, Caratwise; Margaret Welsh, partner at Baker Hostetler and co-chair of the firm’s artificial intelligence team; and Jeremy Shepherd, CEO and founder, Pearl Paradise and president, Pearl Association of America.
“Resilience in the Diamond Landscape” will be held from 12 to 12:55 p.m.
Panelists include Raj Mehta, CEO and managing director of Spectrum B.V.; Jade Trau, fifth-generation diamantaire and fine jewelry designer; Emmy Kondo, strategy consultant at Natural Diamond Initiative, De Beers Group; Mark Klein, vice president of Julius Klein Diamonds; and Daniel Rose, vice president, diamond sourcing, Jared.
From 2:15 to 3:15 p.m. “ASGM (Artisan and Small-Scale Gold Mining) In the Amazon Basin” will be moderated by Edward Bickham, senior advisor on ASGM Issues, World Gold Council.
Panelists include Erich Adam Moreira Lima, head of geology forensic service, Brazilian Federal Police; Irene Mia, senior fellow for Latin America & Conflict, Security and Development at The International Institute for Strategic Studies; Juan José Herrera, business sustainability director, Lundin Gold; and Roger Tissot, executive director, Artisanal Gold Council.
An awards presentation and reception celebrating CIBJO’s 100th anniversary will be held from 5:40 to 7:30 p.m.
The ninth Responsible Practice in Jewelry Leadership Award will be presented to Richline Group’s Arien Gessner. The award recognizes his contribution to ethical sourcing and responsible practices in the gem and jewelry industry.
Wednesday’s program also begins at 8:30 a.m., with sessions running from 9:15 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. followed by closing remarks by Koenigsberg.
From 9:15 to 10:10 a.m., “Beyond Compliance: Climate Risk, Impacts and Strategy for the US Jewelry Industry” will be hosted by John Mulligan, head of sustainability strategy, World Gold Council and president, sustainable development commission, CIBJO.
Panelists include Peter Boyd, resident fellow, Yale Center for Business and the Environment; founder and CEO, Time4Good; Mark Hanna, former CMO, Richline; Sage Lenier, co-founder of environmental think tank Futureline, and Lisa Sachs, director, Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment, Columbia Climate School and associate professor of Professional Practice, Faculty of Climate, Columbia University.
Attendees can head to “The Future of Gold and Silversmithing and the Making of Jewelry, Preserving Skills as a Strategy for Longevity” from 10:15 to 11:10 a.m.
Panelists include Emili Vesilind, editor-in-chief, Gem & Jewel Magazine, Jewelers Mutual; Mary Lewis, head of craft sustainability, Heritage Craft; Karin Paynter, trustee, Goldsmiths Company Foundation; Linus Drogs, president and board chair, Au Enterprises; and Percy Stubbs, chief development officer, Turquoise Mountain.
From 3:55 to 4:50 p.m., moderator John Mulligan will host “Who Bears the ‘Cost’ of Responsible Gold Sourcing? Refineries as a Pressure Point, and the Economics and Challenges of Responsible Gold Sourcing.”
Panelists include Dani Hoover, customer experience and marketing manager, Hoover & Strong; Charlie Betts, managing director, Betts Metals and co-founder, SMO; Elena Masella, head of compliance, Valcambi; Steven Lerche, president, Goldstar; Sara Yood, JVC; and Kat Weymouth, director, diamond and jewelry services, SCS.
For a full list of sessions or more information, visit the IAC website. Tickets are available via EventBrite.
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