Responsible Jewelry Transformative

Sign up for a 1:1 mentorship session at the Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference!

Thank you Alexander Steger for your support of the 2025 Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference

Responsible gold sourcing doesn’t have to be complicated or reserved for the biggest players. ✨

In her talk, “Scalable Responsible Gold Beyond Traceability,” Désirée Binternagel, CEO of Fairever, will share a new approach: combining recycled gold with responsibly sourced gold credits. This practical, flexible model allows jewelers to use recycled materials while providing real, tangible support to artisanal miners without completely restructuring their supply chain.

Learn how small shifts can change a whole system for the better!

Meet Dr. Luis E. Fernandez, Executive Director of CINCIA (Center for Amazonian Scientific Innovation). Dr. Fernandez is an international expert on mercury pollution from gold mining, advising governments on strategies to reduce mercury use and improve global gold supply chain transparency.

Meet Holly McHugh, VP of Sustainability & Social Impact at Mejuri. Holly is a highly experienced leader in responsible sourcing, bringing her expertise from global luxury brands (like Tiffany & Co. and Kering) to drive change and social impact in the modern jewelry industry.

Thank you Hoover & Strong for your support of the 2025 Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference✨💎

This session highlights the incredible work coming out of the Ethical Metalsmiths Education Department. Learn from student speakers Cole Kamerick and Debra Dowden-Crockett about how the next generation is defining what the future of ethical jewelry looks like.

Introducing Debra Dowden-Crockett, Multidisciplinary Artist and Adjunct Professor. Her work spans jewelry, sculpture, and mixed media, often exploring themes of memory and loss. She is featured in the session “Community for Ethical Jewelry.”