London Career Fair

London is one of the great international gem and jewelry centers, and an ideal location for GIA Jewelry Career Fair. GIA has been hosting Career Fairs for more than 25 years in California and New York, and 2018 marks our first Career Fair in London. The event will be hosted at the Goldsmiths’ Centre, near GIA’s campus in London in the heart of the city.

Career Fair is free to job seekers and the public.

Job seekers will have the opportunity to meet with recruiters from gem and jewelry companies of all sizes. Listen to industry VIPs share their insights on the trade, participate in a career coaching session and take time to network with employers and colleagues.

Company representatives and recruiters will meet dozens of quality candidates, passionate about the industry, to fill their open positions. Job seekers encompass a wide range of skills and experience, and include recent GIA graduates and current students as well as experienced professionals looking for the next step in their career.

DAY AT A GLANCE – April 23, 2018

12:30 p.m. – Registration begins
1:00 p.m. – Welcome and “Job Success in Today’s Market” panel discussion.
Recruiting and Career Coaching will follow the panel discussion.
4:00 p.m. - Career Fair concludes

WELCOME

Kathryn Kimmel
Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, GIA

JOB SUCCESS IN TODAY’S MARKET

Hear what leading industry executives have to say about what it takes to succeed in today’s market. Learn how industry trends are creating job opportunities. Gain insight and guidance about the skills and expertise employers want when they’re looking to hire.

Moderator
Mehdi Saadian
Director, London School
GIA

Panelists
Mike Asscher
Vice President
Royal Asscher

Nadja Swarovski
Member of the Swarovski Executive Board

Michael Wainwright
Managing Director
Boodles

Mike Asscher
Vice President
Royal Asscher

Mike Asscher is the managing director of Royal Asscher® Diamond Company. His family was responsible for such notable achievements as the creation of the original 1902 Asscher Cut diamond, and the cutting of the 3105 carat Cullinan diamond, the largest diamond ever found and now part of Great Britain’s crown jewels. Royal Asscher is legendary throughout Europe and boasts an international clientele of royalty and celebrities.

Mike has always been fascinated with the diamond industry. He started as diamond cutter in the family business, and wanting to expand his knowledge, earned the GIA Graduate Gemologist diploma from GIA in Carlsbad, California. He then returned to the Netherlands where he worked for several prestigious jewelers and eventually returned to the family business. Mike held various positions at Royal Asscher, including: assistant buyer, quality controller, head buyer and general manager. His current focus is new business development in Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand. He is also in charge of the creation of new diamond cuts and diamond production management.

Kathryn Kimmel
Senior Vice President & CMO, GIA

A third generation member of the jewelry industry, Kathryn Kimmel has acquired a broad range of experience from retail management, to marketing and branding for a jewelry manufacturer.

During her more than 28-year tenure at GIA, she has played a key role in shaping the Institute’s activities, philosophy, and development, in addition to establishing its marketing policies and objectives. As co-founder of GIA’s Jewelry Career Fair, she is responsible for its creation and development as the industry’s preeminent annual recruitment event. She currently oversees all domestic and international marketing, public relations, communications, and outreach efforts for GIA.

A firm believer in service to the community and the industry, Kimmel has also contributed much of her free time and energy to many industry organizations.

Mehdi Saadian
Director, London School
GIA

Mehdi Saadian became director of GIA’s London campus in 2015. He started his career in the jewellery industry in London as the store manager for a high-end jeweller and later worked as a jewellery quality control inspector. Mehdi’s responsibilities included stone buying and working with jewellers and designers in the production of handmade jewellery. Since joining GIA in 2008, he has taught gemmology classes at the London campus and managed the education team.

Nadja Swarovski
Member of the Swarovski Executive Board

Nadja is a member of the Executive Board of Swarovski, the world’s leading crystal manufacturer, which was founded in Austria by her great-great-grandfather Daniel Swarovski in 1895. Her career at the family business started in the mid-1990s, when she began showcasing Swarovski’s vast product range to the fashion, jewelry, architecture, lighting and home décor industries, encouraging designers to experiment with crystal’s creative potential. This laid the foundations for a series of collaborative relationships that have established her as one of the 21st century’s most significant patrons of design talent, and in 2016 she was made a Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. Today Nadja drives the brand strategy of Swarovski’s €3.2 billion global business, as well as overseeing Swarovski’s Global Corporate Responsibility efforts. Consolidating Swarovski’s long-term commitment to charitable giving, she has also established the Swarovski Foundation to support projects that foster creativity and culture, meet social needs and promote wellbeing, and conserve natural resources.

Michael Wainwright
Managing Director
Boodles

Michael Wainwright was educated at Shrewsbury School and Exeter University. He graduated in Economics and qualified as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG in 1983. Michael joined Boodles in 1984 and is Managing Director of the company. He is the fifth generation of the Wainwright family to own the business, which was established in Liverpool in 1798. Boodles have nine shops in total – five in London, including Bond Street’s flagship, three in the North West of England and one in Dublin. Michael is currently Fundraising Trustee for the Rainbow Trust, a children's charity that provides emotional and practical support to families who have a child with a life threatening or terminal illness. He is a past Prime Warden of the Goldsmiths Company.