Harvard To Host Jewelry Industry Representatives At First Responsible Jewelry Summit

Future-proofing and creative thinking will be on the agenda tomorrow in Cambridge, Massachusetts, as great minds meet to explore the future of the jewelry industry, at the first ever State of the Art Jewelry Summit at Harvard University. Three women thought leaders — Melanie Grant, executive director (RJC); Susan Jacques, Gemological Institute of America (GIA) president and CEO; and Raquel Alonso-Perez Ph.D, curatrix, the Mineralogical and Geological Museum at Harvard University (MGMH) — will host the event, which aims to explore the challenges and opportunities for responsibility and sustainability across business and technology. The Summit will finish with a panel discussion on the future of sustainable jewelry, with members of the upcoming generation.

“It’s been wonderful to collaborate with two such vibrant educational powerhouses,” say Grant, who had been talking about a big ideas event for the jewelry industry with Alonso-Perez for some time. Grant took over as Executive Director at the RJC in January and is pushing a more creative and inclusive approach to sustainability in jewelry: “the RJC agenda stems from the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and we’re seeing much more emphasis on climate change as an end goal for supply chain — the G7 has just pledged to support the International Sustainability Standards Board on combining sustainability and climate change together in corporate reporting. It’s a natural evolution.” The opening keynote speech for the event, will be given by Dan Schrag, Professor of Environmental Science and Engineering at Harvard University.

“I’m excited that the MGMH at Harvard University is hosting its ever first Summit on responsible jewelry, in collaboration with The RJC and GIA,” says Alonoso-Perez. “Our mission is to unite art, science and industry so that we might tackle the future together. Growth must be more than economic”. Organizers expect over 150 attendees from every corner of the industry, to discuss the future of responsible jewelry at the day of talks, round tables and panel discussions.

Spanning everything from AI and innovation, to navigating sanctions and conflict, and understanding what consumers really care about; the agenda is rich, featuring a cross-section of speakers and panelists including Wallace Chan, jewelry artist; Adrianne Sanogo, chair of the Black in Jewelry Coalition; Tiffany Stevens, president, CEO and general counsel of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee, and Eira Thomas, president and CEO of Lucara Diamonds. “I don’t know many industry events with this sort of mix,” Grant tells me. “I’m most excited about the interactions between the people in the room, some big minds will be present so hopefully we’ll come away with some answers for the future. I would love to see some actionable pledges.”

The event is also a chance for the RJC to launch its first ESG toolkit to a concentration of industry players. Designed as a blueprint for the practical application of environmental, social and governance to jewelry businesses, the kit is aligned with the RJC Code of Practice, but can be applied to any business working to be ESG reporting-ready: “everyone will have to do this at some point, it won’t be an option. The kit will help to get people ready for when it becomes law – it’s about building resilience in terms of responsibility so you’re not vulnerable further down the line,” says Grant. The kit will be made available for free, to all attendees.

The State of the Art Jewelry Summit is a one-day event at Harvard University on June 23, 2023.