The Sustainability Heroes Panel Series returns to Jewellery & Gem WORLD Hong Kong (JGW) with two engrossing discussions on next steps in sustainability journeys. The sessions feature winners and finalists of the Sustainability Awards 2025 by Jewellery World Awards, who will be feted at the JGW Fair Reception on September 17 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. 

The first panel discussion, “Sustainability that Pays: Inspiring Stories from the Jewellery Sector,” takes place on September 15 from 2:30pm to 3:30pm at The Stage in Hall 2 of the AsiaWorld-Expo. It brings together jewellery industry leaders who have transformed sustainability challenges into business opportunities – Miriam Mimo Kamau Caplan, founder and director of Mimo Gem Traders Ltd; Hitarth Dholakia, second-generation entrepreneur and vice president of sales at Hari Krishna Exports Pvt Ltd; and Pui In Catherine Siu, founder of PICS Fine Jewellery.

The panellists will share their journeys implementing holistic practices that benefit both financial performance and brand reputation while creating positive environmental and social impact. They will also explore how comprehensive approaches to responsible sourcing, ethical production and community engagement have created measurable business value. 

Highlighting real-world examples of companies using innovative materials, transparent supply chains and regenerative practices to meet growing consumer demand for responsibly-produced jewellery, the panel discussion will delve into how jewellery businesses can adapt their marketing strategies to connect sustainability stories with the values of next-generation consumers who view their purchases as expressions of personal ethics. It will also examine how companies are navigating the cost challenges of responsible material sourcing while maintaining price points that customers will accept. 

Meet the panellists

Miriam Mimo Kamau Caplan, founder and director of Mimo Gem Traders Ltd, embodies resilience and innovation in Kenya’s gemstone industry. Her story is one for the books as she rose from a domestic help, tea maker and then receptionist for a US gem dealer in Nairobi to owning Tsavorite Mines in Taita Taveta and Nosikitok Namanga in Kenya where she practices modern mining.

Her leadership extends beyond the mines, ensuring the welfare of over 50 families in the mining communities and championing sustainable and ethical mining practices globally. Mimo Gem has not only pioneered sustainable mining practices in Kenya but also served as catalyst for remarkable community development. 

As vice president of Sales at Hari Krishna Exports Pvt Ltd, Hitarth Dholakia oversees strategic market expansion, client engagement, and brand development across international markets, carrying forward the legacy of his father, Ghanshyam Dholakia, one of the group’s founding brothers.

Educated in New York, Hitarth holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and is a certified diamond grader from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). He started as a management intern in the company and advanced through his work at HK Designs before taking on his current role in 2021. As a second-generation leader at the Dholakia Foundation, he champions large-scale environmental and social welfare projects across India. 

Another next-gen industry leader, Piu In Catherine Siu is the founder of PICS Fine Jewellery. A GIA Graduate Gemologist and jewellery artisan with nearly 15 years of experience, she believes all natural creations are the perfect combination of art and science; every gem – like every person – has a purpose on Earth. Her journey, driven by curiosity, spans commerce, gemmology, design and craftsmanship.

Through her work, Siu celebrates overlooked details and unrepresented gemstones, aiming to promote social equality and inclusion. She received the Hong Kong Living Influencer Award in 2021 and was named one of Ritzy’s “10 Influential Jewellery Designers” in 2022.

Conducted in English with AI-powered Mandarin captions, the panel discussion will be moderated by Marie Feliciano, marketing and communications manager of Informa Markets Jewellery.

Click here to register for JGW 2025.