Gem-A’s annual conference returns to historic site

London--The Gemmological Association of Great Britain (Gem-A) will move its annual conference this year back to the former Royal Agricultural Hall in London, as it changes its program to make it more interactive for members.

Gem-A will return to the hall, which is located in London’s historic Islington district and is now known as the Business Design Centre, after a century-long absence to host its conference from Nov. 1 to 4. 

The conference brings together a wealth of speakers from across the globe to provide the most innovative and relevant gem-related topics, and invites the industry’s top leaders to provide a weekend of networking and events.

The association said that it will also change the regular schedule to make the conference more interactive than in previous years.

Following the conference will be the annual graduation ceremony for all of Gem-A’s gemology and diamond diplomas.

“Members are being asked to get actively engaged in contributing to the conference program,” said Amandine Rongy FGA, Gem-A’s marketing and events manager. “We’re constantly looking to get more of our members interested in the events happening around Gem-A and making sure they’re keeping up their personal developments by attending or events, so we hope we can make this year’s conference more inclusive of all our members, wherever in the world they reside.”

Gem-A also has brought back its field trip program after requests from its members. It recently hosted a trip to Idar-Oberstein, Germany, from June 21 to June 28.

Idar-Oberstein has long been a European leader in the chemical process of dying agates and other gemstones. Today it is also a hub for European gem dealers around the world and the birthplace of some of the most talented cutters and designers.

Over the course of the seven-day trip, Gem-A took 25 attendees to museums, mines and the German Gemmological Institute, among other events.

More information about the Gem-A field trips can be found on the association’s website.