CSR in the wake of COVID and Africa's fast developing jewellery industries
to be featured at live 'Jewellery Industry Voices' seminars in Vicenza on September 12
Launched as a webinar series in April 2020, Jewellery Industry Voices will be making its "in person" debut this weekend at VOICE VicenzaOro in Vicenza, Italy, the first major international gathering for the jewellery sector since the start of the COVID-19 crisis some six months ago. On Saturday, September 12, 2020, the JIV team will conduct two seminars, with the first looking at Corporate Social Responsibility and sustainability in the wake of the pandemic, and the second focusing on the development of Africa's home-grown jewellery industries.
While the Jewelry Industry Voices seminars will presented for the first time before a live audience, in Hall 7 of the giant Vicenza Expo, they also will be live-streamed online internationally, with a simultaneous translation available in Italian.
The first seminar is entitled CSR and sustainability in the post-COVID era, and will take place from 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM Italian time on the VOICE main stage in Hall 7 of the Vicenza Expo. It will be live-streamed on the VOICE website, Facebook page and YouTube channel.
All indications show that consumer expectations from the jewellery industry related to responsible sourcing, ethical business principles and sustainable environmental practices will not dissipate in the post-COVID world, on the contrary. For many consumers the pandemic will have reinforced the understanding that natural processes need to be respected, and any disregard for society and the environment cannot be tolerated. Verifiable responsible business standards will be more relevant than ever before. The seminar panel will discuss the implications.
Participating as panellists in the first seminar are Hanifa Mezoui, AICESIS New York Permanent Representative, United Nations; Lila Karbassi, Chief of Programmes, United Nations Global Compact; Edward Asscher, President, World Diamond Council; Iris Van der Veken, Executive Director, Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC); Eleonora Rizzuto, Sustainable Development Director and Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer, Bulgari and LVMH Italy; and Maddalena Capra, Head of Sustainability, Pomellato. The seminar will be co-moderated by Edward Johnson and Steven Benson, and CIBJO President Gaetano Cavalieri will make introductory remarks.
The second seminar is entitled Africa is rising: A new generation finds its voice, and will take place from 4:15 PM to 5:30 PM Italian time on the VOICE main stage in Hall 7 of the Vicenza Expo. It will be live-streamed on the VOICE website, Facebook page and YouTube channel.
The seminar will focus on the new generation of African jewellery designers and manufacturers, who are intent on changing the paradigm by which almost all raw materials mined on the continent are exported and processed elsewhere. Internationally educated but strongly influenced by local tradition, they seek to appeal to a worldwide audience, and also to the fast-growing consumer-base closer to home.
Participating as panellists in the second seminar are Satta Matturi, Founder and Creative Lead, Satta Matturi Fine Jewellery, Botswana and the United Kingdom; Monica Gichuhi, Africa Gem Exhibition and Conference, Kenya; Patricia Mweene, Founder, Inonge Zita Zambian Gemstones, Zambia and Denmark; and Thomas (Labi) Kapo, CEO, Akapo Jewels, South Africa. Moderating the seminar is Nere Teriba, Kian Smith Trade and Co., Nigeria. She will be supported by Edward Johnson and Steven Benson.
Recordings of both seminars will be made available via the CIBJO YouTube channel after VOICE VicenzaOro 2020.
