【London, UK】RJC Welcomes New Standards Committee Co-Chairs

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Editor’s Note

The Responsible Jewellery Council has appointed Sara Yood and Eduard Stefanescu as the new co-chairs of its pivotal Standards Committee.

New Leadership for Standards Committee

The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) has appointed two new co-chairs to its Standards Committee: Sara Yood and Eduard Stefanescu.

Committee’s Critical Role

The Standards Committee is central to ensuring RJC’s Codes of Practice, Chain of Custody, and Laboratory Grown Materials standards remain robust, credible, and aligned with evolving global expectations for responsible business conduct. With expanding membership and increasing regulatory complexity, the committee’s work is more critical than ever.

Sara Yood’s Expertise

Sara Yood, President and CEO of the Jewellers Vigilance Committee (JVC), is a recognized authority in jewellery industry regulations, responsible business conduct, and consumer protection. She leads the organization’s work on legal guidance, compliance, and integrity in the US jewellery market. Her expertise strengthens RJC’s commitment to alignment with international laws, due diligence frameworks, and high ethical standards.

“As I step into the co-chair role, in which I serve in my personal capacity, I am looking forward to continuing the complicated but rewarding work of updating and maintaining the various RJC standards. Not everyone would be excited to review and revise such a dense text, but I find the process invigorating. We know that the nuance of the text is vitally important to the businesses that rely on it, but many may not fully grasp just how many hands it passes through before approval. Serving as one of those layers is a challenging yet gratifying exercise.”
Eduard Stefanescu’s Background

Eduard Stefanescu, Sustainability Manager of C.HAFNER GmbH + Co. KG, is an industry leader in precious metals innovation and circularity. He oversees international operations in refining, recycling, and supply-chain integrity. A geoscientist by profession, his technical and sustainability expertise supports the Standards Committee’s mission to advance responsible sourcing, environmental stewardship, and transparency. He also chairs the European Precious Metals Federation’s Sustainability Platform and the German Precious Metals Federation’s Sustainability Working Committee.

“Little did I know that joining the Standards Committee as a guest would lead to becoming co-chair. The experience exceeded my expectations in terms of mutual respect and teamwork among diverse stakeholders from different sectors, collaborating to shape standards that drive progress across the industry. Let me say, it is truly a remarkable industry – multifaceted and showcasing unique character. As the initiative representing the global jewellery and watch industry, RJC carries both a responsibility and an opportunity to address global challenges through standards that promote human and labour rights, environmental protection, and transparency in supply chains. My goal is to help RJC remain the frontrunner in developing standards and guidance that embed sustainability, ESG principles, transparency, and responsible supply chains— while encouraging collaboration and constructive dialogue across the industry.”
Interim Executive Director’s Statement

John Hall, RJC’s Interim Executive Director, stated:

“We are delighted to welcome Sara and Eduard as co-chairs, along with our new committee members whose expertise spans the entire jewellery and mining ecosystem. Their collective leadership will help ensure RJC’s standards remain credible, inclusive, and aligned with global expectations on human rights, environmental responsibility, and supply chain integrity.”
Upcoming Meeting and New Members

The Standards Committee is meeting in London from 16-18 December, where many new members will join to support the transition. The new appointments reflect RJC’s commitment to continuous improvement and a transparent, inclusive, and rigorous standard-setting process. All changes take effect on 1 January 2026.
RJC also welcomes a group of new committee members drawn from across the jewellery value chain, civil society, and consumer representation. Their combined experience strengthens the committee’s multi-stakeholder approach and reflects the breadth of expertise needed to shape globally credible standards.
New industry members include: Ben Ronca (Leach Garner), Donald Bray (Fura Gems), Melanie Mater (De Beers), Valerie Michel (Rosy Blue), Wafa Jaffery (DMCC), Alethea Inns (Gemological Science International), and Raluca Angel (Natural Diamond Council).
Non-industry members include: Antonino Serra Cambaceres (consumer), Chris Vandome (Chatham House), Abbi Buxton (Human Rights, Gender, Inequality Representation), Laure Williams (Richemont), Francesco Giunta (Heraeus), and Kesah Trowell (Watches of Switzerland).

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⏰ Published on: December 11, 2025