Accelerating sustainability and gender empowerment in global mining industry
VICENZA, Italy – A panel of senior female executives at the Vicenzaoro trade event in January, chaired by WJI 2030, called for accelerated moves to achieve sustainability and gender empowerment across the global mining industry.
The panel of three executives, moderated by WJI 2030 Executive Director Iris Van Der Veken, and introduced by Italian goldsmithing leader Ivana Ciabatti (Chair, Italpreziosi, a member of WJI 2030), said that progress had been achieved to date, but much more needed to be done to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to create a fairer workplace, a better working environment, and more sustainable supply chain in mining.
“It is important not only to attract women to mining and retain them, but also to ensure a safe space for them to work and grow,” Iris said while chairing the panel entitled “Women Driving Sustainability in Mining”.
Supporting the implementation of sustainability and gender empowerment targets by mining companies, Iris added, “We need reliable data, then we need concrete actions. It needs to be an acceleration.”
Among the panellists, Nancy Lipson, Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Newmont Corporation, one of the world’s leading gold miners, said that in her 17 years with the company board representation of women had grown to 42 percent from zero.
“We also have a long way to go,” she added, in a reference to steps that needed to be taken to achieve a more equitable representation of women across the workforce in mining.
Charlene Wringley, Director Sustainability of Gold Field Corp, another gold miner with a strong operational presence in Africa, said her company had set a target of 30 percent women in the workforce by 2030, up from 21 percent now.
“Women are integral to our company’s success,” she said.
Gwennael Guillen, VP Sustainability of Endeavour Mining Corporation, said her company planned to set more aggressive targets to achieve greater sustainability and gender empowerment, underlining the importance of measuring impact, and supporting a greater participation by young women in education in the sector, such as in mining engineering.
To rewatch the full panel discussion, see here.
February 15th 2023 was a milestone for WJI 2030 as we hosted our second Members Workshop, at Cartier, in Meyrin, Switzerland.
The goal for the day was to be inspired, to update our members on the current status and progress made to date, to explore the active role members can play in our governance, and to start actioning the three strategic pillars, building on the expectations shared during our first Members Workshop in October 2022. The priorities were clear, and how we move forward is fundamental to delivering impact.
For the second Members Workshop we adopted an approach focused on how this initiative can scale faster through learning and partnerships, how we can unlock the impact of the collective, and moreover, how we as an initiative can lead and accelerate on transparency and reporting.
Our members, partners, and key experts came together to shape the vision for delivering positive impact, discussing concrete actions, and developing roadmaps that will help us launch new workstreams and deliver on our three key strategic pillars: Climate Resilience, Preserving Resources, and Fostering Inclusiveness.
We also had the privilege of welcoming Mr. Cyrille Vigneron, President and CEO, Cartier, and WJI 2030 Co-Chair, to share some insightful perspectives and engage in a Q&A discussion with our members. CEO leadership is a fundamental to this Initiative, and it was a pleasure to welcome Mr. Cyrille Vigneron to demonstrate why commitment needs to be at the highest level.
WJI 2030 is looking forward to embarking on this critical journey with its members and to our next workshop where we can start working on delivering impact and action on the ground.
Interview with Susan Jacques, President and CEO, GIA
GIA is working towards gender parity in all its locations around the world. GIA is striving to close gaps where they exist and put in place the infrastructure and policies to work toward gender parity, says GIA President and CEO Susan Jacques.
How is gender equality part of your business strategy?
At GIA our mission is to protect consumers and ensure the public trust in gems and jewelry. To accomplish that, we must reflect the public we serve. At GIA inclusion and diversity go hand in hand with our mission. Our goal is a culture in which every employee feels a sense of pride, safety and belonging; valued for who they are and the unique background, experiences, and perspectives they bring to the Institute.
Have you seen progress in gender empowerment in your company? What steps have you taken till date? Success stories?
GIA is committed to advancing gender equality as part of our commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Through this we have adopted the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEP). The Institute supports initiatives within the industry that bring about meaningful change in diversity and inclusion, especially for gender. We support the Women’s Jewelry Association and created a program, alongside PACT, in East Africa to educate women artisanal miners about the gems they mine and help them to be more successful in their sales of these gems. These women have shared with us that this GIA education has assisted them in improving their lives and those of their families which is very rewarding for us to know.
Across our global workforce of more than 3,800 associates, the gender ratio approaches 50-50. We are working to achieve that balance in all locations and at all levels. In India, where there are fewer women in the workforce, the GIA team made a particular effort to attract women to become laboratory staff by addressing concerns about security, especially when working a second shift. In addition, GIA India supports efforts in schools to bring more women into the national workforce. Also, our Board of Governors, who strategically guide our Institute, is a 50/50 balance of gender. These extraordinary women Governors are professional experts from leading educational institutions, finance, risk and audit, technology, and cyber security.
What are the challenges and opportunities?
The challenge is to work toward gender parity in all GIA locations around the world and at all levels within the organization. The opportunity is to work inclusively with the teams in each GIA location to close gaps where they exist and put in place the infrastructure and policies to work toward gender parity. As part of this, we evaluate infrastructure and policies to make the workplace women-friendly and inclusive for all.
There is strength in diversity. According to McKinsey in 2021, the companies that become more diverse and manage this diversity successfully will outperform their peers so strongly that their peers will quickly follow.
What are your priorities? Are there any frameworks you use to help you in your journey? Do you have targets and how do you measure them?
GIA is a purpose-driven organization; inclusion and diversity go hand in hand with our mission. We have internal targets and we are committed to the UNGC and UN Women’s WEPs. That said, organizations need to go beyond targets and frameworks to ensure that their culture, policies, training, hiring practices, and values align with and strengthen gender equity. That is what we are working toward every day.
How important is WJI 2030’s third pillar to support you in your journey?
WJI 2030’s third pillar of fostering inclusiveness is incredibly helpful in establishing and promoting this for everyone in the industry. When we come together to align on overarching goals and benchmarks, it makes for a more fruitful and inclusive future. We are delighted to be working with WJI 2030 on leading the industry forward in the achievement of these important goals.
How has your personal journey been to date? What are your hopes for the future?
In my 40-year career in the gem and jewelry industry, I’ve been fortunate to have many opportunities to demonstrate my abilities and contribute to the companies where I have worked, and the industry organizations where I have served on their Boards. I was fortunate that there was a need for greater diversity in the industry over the past three decades, and being a woman in a leadership role gave me opportunities that I might not have had, given that there were few women leading companies and organizations at that time. Thankfully this has changed dramatically and there is a much greater gender balance today in our industry.
My hope for the future is that we all continue to recognize the tremendous benefit of seeking out diverse voices and representation. That diversity, mirroring the public we serve, is one of the ways that we can ensure the continued relevance and importance of our industry and consumer confidence and trust in gems and jewelry.
Iris Van der Veken, Executive Director & Secretary General at WJI 2030, was a guest on Rapaports latest podcast episode, where she delves into the initiatives immediate and long-term goals.
Iris discusses the latest Member Workshop that took place in Geneva at Cartier, and the clearer focus that will now drive the Initiatives workstreams and actions going forward.
The discussion also explores what sets the initiative apart from other programs that promote the industry’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) agenda and how the luxury brands are approaching sustainability challenges.
Listen to the podcast now Podcast: The Path Toward Sustainability – Rapaport
The Watch & Jewellery Initiative 2030 hosted its members, strategic partners and key experts for the second time on Wednesday February 15th at the WJI 2030 Members Workshop. The goal for the day was to be inspired, to update members on the current status and progress made till date, explore the active role members can play in governance, and start actioning the 3 strategic pillars, building on the expectations shared during our first members workshop in October 2022. The priorities were clear, and how we move forward is fundamental to delivering our goals in a pragmatic approach.
When it came to actioning the 3 pillars, our members, partners, and experts came together to shape the vision for delivering positive impact, discussing concrete actions and developing roadmaps that will help us launch new workstreams and deliver on our 3 key pillars: Climate Resilience, Preserving Resources, and Fostering Inclusiveness.
On each of these topics working groups were organised in order to share input and experiences, allow members to provide suggestions, and more importantly, agree on meaningful commitments on a large range of stakes such as biodiversity, human rights and climate change.
Two workstreams have been launched on gender responsive procurement with UN Women and transparency reporting with ESG book.
We had the privilege of welcoming Mr. Cyrille Vigneron during the workshop, to share some insightful perspectives and engage in a Q&A discussion with our members. CEO leadership is fundamental to this initiative, and it was a pleasure to welcome Mr. Cyrille Vigneron to demonstrate why commitment needs to be at the highest level.
The WJI 2030 is looking forward to embarking on this critical journey with its members from many of the world’s leading Watch and Jewellery organisations, and sharing our roadmap ahead in the coming weeks.
New York, February 09 2023 – The Watch & Jewellery Initiative (WJI) 2030 announced a new collaboration with the United Nations Global Compact launching a Small Medium Enterprise (“SME”) SDG 2030 Solutions Lab.
This strategic collaboration focuses on educating SMEs in the global watch and jewellery industry on key topics, including design thinking in sustainability, decent labour, human rights due diligence, climate action, biodiversity, and inclusiveness with a focus on gender and intersectionality.
The Solutions Lab aims to provide a harmonised practical education programme with key expertise from the UN Global Compact and key stakeholders to guide the sustainability journey of SMEs in the global jewellery and watch industry to enhance transparency and operationalise sustainability throughout the value chain. Other topics in the solutions lab will include innovation and technology to attract youngsters to our industry to train in artisanal and other skills.
It is estimated that SMEs constitute more than 70% of businesses in the global jewellery and watch industry.
These enterprises are often family businesses committed to doing good but require additional capacity-building through education and practical toolkits. A stakeholder consultation led by the WJI 2030 determined the SME and supplier community needs more practical guidance and alignment on key sustainability topics.
Using a data-driven practical approach through this project with the UN Global Compact, the WJI 2030 plans to launch a working group in March 2023 in collaboration with CIBJO, the World Jewellery Confederation; BJOP, the French Union of Jewellery; and the Design Department of Politecnico di Milano. The objective is to develop a replicable and scalable framework to enhance responsible supply chain practices that should lead to a value-creation strategy for all SMEs in the global jewellery and watch industry, increase transparency reporting, and show progress over time.
During the project’s initial implementation, participating future-forward SMEs will receive hands-on, personalised guidance and assistance to start the journey. A formal consultation process will be launched where key associations, NGOs, and jewellery and watch players can contribute on the content development. Best practices will be shared in the WJI 2030 Solutions Lab and shared with the broader industry.
Given the pivotal role SMEs play in driving economic development, poverty reduction, job creation, economic emancipation, and overall well-being, the SDG 2030 SME Solutions Lab seeks to prove that it is possible – and profitable – for small businesses to do the right thing, the right way, in the global jewellery and watch industry.
Marie-Claire Daveu, Chief Sustainability Officer and Head of Institutional Affairs, Kering, said: “We are happy to witness today’s launch of the UN Global Compact SME collaboration – it is a great new step for the WJI 2030. The roadmap is clear, and we need to collaborate with all key stakeholders to make this a successful pilot. It is our aim to explore long-term systematic solutions that will advance sustainability in our wider supplier communities.”
Cyrille Vigneron, President & CEO, Cartier International, commenting on the launch, said: “All Sustainable Development Goals require sectors cooperation between clients and suppliers through the entire value chain. This implies large corporations as well as small and medium size companies. By translating and adapting the SDG to these small and mid size companies, they will get the framework they need to build concrete actions plans and sustainability road maps, consistent with their clients and own suppliers plans.”
Iris Van der Veken, Executive Director & Secretary General, Watch & Jewellery Initiative 2030 said:
“SMEs are at the heart of the global jewellery and watch industry. The 2030 agenda is about leaving no one behind. It is an important moment to step up and work closely together and take the SDGs as a catalyst for responsible business, growth and innovation across the value chain with a focus on the SME’s. We will invite key stakeholders around the table to share best practices, develop practical and meaningful tools to strengthen transparency and operationalise sustainability into their businesses. We have an enormous opportunity and duty to attract young talent to inspire them to work for our industry. That will require a new mindset of design thinking in sustainability and more cooperation than ever.”
About the Watch & Jewellery Initiative 2030
Cartier, delegated by Richemont, and Kering launched the Watch & Jewellery Initiative 2030 driven by a common conviction that the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and aspirations for a sustainable industry can only be achieved through collaborative initiatives. The global initiative is open to all watch and jewellery players with a national or international footprint. It is committed to a common core of key sustainability goals in three areas: building climate resilience, preserving resources, and fostering inclusiveness. The association is based in Maison de La Paix in Geneva. For more information, visit our website www.wjinitiative2030.org
About the United Nations Global Compact
As a special initiative of the UN Secretary-General, the United Nations Global Compact is a call to companies everywhere to align their operations and strategies with Ten Principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment, and anti-corruption. Our ambition is to accelerate and scale the global collective impact of business by upholding the Ten Principles and delivering the Sustainable Development Goals through accountable companies and ecosystems that enable change. With more than 17,000 companies and 3,000 non-business signatories based in over 160 countries, and 69 Local Networks, the UN Global Compact is the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative — one Global Compact uniting business for a better world. For more information, follow @globalcompact on social media and visit our website at www.unglobalcompact.org