GEMSWORLD | 32 | 2023 PERSPECTIVE in the communities where our gemstones are mined and cut. Our Gems Keep Giving programme was responsible for bringing a clean and consistent water supply to a community of 3,000 people in Kenya who had no source of clean water before. The efforts of Gems Keep Giving will be an ongoing focus of ICA’s efforts. For its part, our Ethical Member Accreditation initiative is designed to ensure that our supply chains are as transparent and sustainable as can be. ICA coordinates efforts with other organisations like the World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO) and the Responsible Jewellery Council to protect the integrity of the supply chain. Our Code of Ethics outlines clear guidelines regarding these matters. What are your priorities at ICA? Hucker: The CEO of any organisation must ensure that the association can deliver opportunities and services that benefit the businesses of its members and the industry it serves. ICA does that primarily by positioning its members as the most expert and reliable sources of coloured gemstones in the industry and through promotion, education, engagement in industry associations and functions, and trade shows. Our members adhere to a strict code of ethics and professional behaviour. This gives our customers the confidence they need to make an informed and pleasing purchase. With the ICA Board of Directors, I will work to build our membership, expand our Ethical Member Accreditation programme, grow and improve our biennial congresses, and enhance our presence in industry trade shows. The 2023 ICA Congress takes place in Dubai from February 14 to 17. How will you expand ICA’s membership? Hucker: An association’s strength depends on the quantity and quality of its membership. ICA could dramatically expand its membership base if it did not have such strict requirements formembership andmember performance. We currently have members from 47 countries and will certainly have more. The opportunities for growth vary, depending upon the character of members. Many of them come from mining communities in countries that are emerging from the ravages of Covid and grappling with the lack of sufficient investment, changing climate conditions and a moribund economy. We strive to ensure that these communities grow sustainably and benefit equally from the resources they bring to the supply chain. We need to invest in communities’ health, labour conditions, education advancement and quality of life. Another segment of our membership is in the supply-chain trading channels, from dealers through to retail members. A global recession and supply chain issues plague our industry. The last few years have been challenging but the industry survived and, in some cases, thrived. The best opportunities for growth in this segment are in Europe, Asia and certainly the US. What can we expect from ICA moving forward? Hucker: Coloured gemstones have, for the past two decades, benefited from an increase in interest both from designers and manufacturers and certainly from consumers. As the appreciation and the desire to own coloured gemstone jewellery grows, so will the need for ethical professionals to supply those needs. Young people especially want to feel good about where their products come from and whether these are responsibly produced. This underscores the relevance of ICA as the global representation of coloured gemstone professionals. We can do a tremendous amount of work in producing countries to increase efficiency, improve livelihoods and grow in importance to the community. ICA is also a source of professional growth for members of the coloured gemstone sector. We can provide our dealers and retail members with ongoing education about developments in the industry with new gemstone finds and emerging techniques for jewellery production. As a truly international association, ICA is in the unique position to promote coloured gemstones and help address the needs of communities that are maturing in mining, manufacturing and marketing. Our strength is our international representation and the varied, comprehensive perspective it provides to address the issues of today. Douglas Hucker多年来一直在第一线参与彩色宝石 行业的演变。这位行业资深人士在2022年6月成 为国际有色宝石协会(ICA)的首席执行官之前，曾 执掌美国宝石业商会(AGTA)24年。在与《宝石世界》的访谈 中，他分享了他对彩色宝石市场的评估，以及他在ICA的工 作重点。 Coloured gemstones are not only a source of incredible beauty but also something we can be proud to buy and own because they help improve lives in the communities of origin.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NjAxOTU=