Iris Van der Veken

As Executive Director of the Responsible Jewellery Council, she is amongst our The Plus 100 names around the jewelry world, within the Awareness category. The first woman executive director for the organisation, she has wide-ranging international experience in the diamond, gold and jewelry industries. 

Title Executive Director, Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC)
Where London
Why The first woman executive director for RJC, unique in its participation among organisations at every step in the value chain, each bringing a commitment to a responsible supply chain and responsible business practices

Iris Van der Veken stepped into the role as executive director of the Responsible Jewellery Council in April 2019 with the aim to drive forward the mission of the standard setting and certification body. The first woman executive director for the organisation, she has wide-ranging international experience in the diamond, gold and jewelry industries. She worked extensively on the Alignment Assessment of industry programmes with the OECD minerals guidance. Now she is working with the RJC board and management team to ensure operational excellence throughout the RJC, which has more than 1,200 members across over 70 countries. «The 2030 Agenda – the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – plays an important leadership role for the Responsible Jewellery Council in driving progress on the implementation and delivery of trust to key stakeholders. The RJC has a mission to mobilise responsible companies from mining to retail to integrate sustainability in their operations - in other words to support the SDGs. The recent launch of the new RJC Code of Practices (aligned with the SDG framework) reflects the evolving needs of the industry and demands of consumers globally. Consumers have a choice. Trust and transparency are the new equity. Partnerships are the only way forward. As the industry changes, we can ensure that manufacturers, retailers and consumers are educated about the importance of responsible sourcing in all minerals.» The RJC has continued to grow its membership significantly under Iris’s leadership, as large and small businesses from across the supply chain commit to implementing and demonstrating responsible business practices.