Industry Heavyweights to Sit on JNA Awards 2012 Judging Panel

HONG KONG, April 3, 2012 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Jewellery News Asia (www.jewellerynewsasia.com), organiser of the prestigious JNA Awards, is proud to present an international panel of judges comprising some of the most illustrious names in the gemstone and jewellery industry. The JNA Awards is now open for entries.

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Industry leaders - Rio Tinto, Chow Tai Fook, Robert Wan Tahiti, Israel Diamond Institute and the Shanghai Diamond Exchange - have also recently been named JNA Awards 2012 (www.JNAawards.com) partners.

These international leaders come with a vast amount of experience and are well-respected within the trade.

The panel consists of:

Albert Cheng, Managing Director, World Gold Council – Far East
James Courage, Chief Executive Officer, Platinum Guild International UK Ltd
Matthew Runci, President and Chief Executive Officer, Jewelers of America
Wilson Yuen, President, International Colored Gemstone Association

Letitia Chow, Founder of Jewellery News Asia and Director of Business Development – Jewellery Group at UBM Asia, will serve as the Chair of the judging panel. "It is exciting to have these authoritative leaders representing various sectors of the industry and different corners of the world serving as judges in our inaugural event," Chow said. "It is important that the process is robust, transparent and intellectually rigorous."

Albert Cheng, Managing Director of World Gold Council (WGC) – Far East, commented, "I am delighted to be invited to join the panel of judges for the inaugural JNA Awards initiated by Jewellery News Asia, an influential regional publication in the jewellery industry. I sincerely wish the Awards great success." Cheng joined the WGC regional office in Singapore in March 1993 as Regional Manager for Planning and Business Development – Far East. In 2003, he was appointed Managing Director of WGC – Far East, responsible for the council's entire operations in the region.

James Courage, Chief Executive Officer of Platinum Guild International (PGI), added, "I am honoured to have been invited to participate in the JNA Awards, an innovative event recognising achievements across a wide range of categories in the jewellery industry in Asia. I have been privileged to have both lived in the region and worked in many Asian markets over the last 18 years." Courage's association with the jewellery business goes back almost 40 years when he started at De Beers and joined PGI as Chief Executive in September 1996.  Now based in London, he is responsible for PGI's global jewellery development.

Matthew Runci, President and Chief Executive Officer of Jewelers of America (JA), said the JNA Awards has come at an opportune time. "With Asian markets setting the pace for the entire world of jewellery, the JNA Awards provides a remarkable and timely opportunity to showcase the very best the industry has to offer in the realm of innovation, design and quality. We are proud to be associated with this initiative," Runci said. Since his appointment as President and CEO of JA in 1995, Runci's objective has been to enhance the professionalism of member retail jewellery businesses to reinforce consumers' confidence in the purchase of fine jewellery and watches. He is also a founding member of the Responsible Jewellery Council, and has served as Chairman of the Board since 2005.  

Wilson K.W. Yuen is the president of the International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA). A member of ICA since 1987, Yuen has served on its board since 2005, chairing its China Task Force, and was instrumental in opening up the Chinese market to the global gem trade. Beginning his gemstone career in 1971 as a cutter, he established his own business, Able Lapidary & Jewelry Ltd, in Hong Kong in 1979. "The JNA Awards sends out a very positive message to the jewellery and gemstone industry on excellence, responsibility and contribution," he said. "At the same time, it creates much excitement and enthusiasm within the trade. I fully support the event and am flattered to serve as one of the judges."

The JNA Awards is an industry-wide event that honours and recognises excellence and achievement in the Asian jewellery trade. The Awards ceremony and gala dinner will be held on September 20, 2012, during the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair, at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong. The event, the first of its kind in Asia, is organised by Jewellery News Asia (www.jewellerynewsasia.com) of UBM Asia in collaboration with UBM Awards.

The competition is open for entries from now until May 4. Interested parties may obtain details on the award categories, rules of entry, judging criteria and judging process by logging on to www.JNAawards.com. Entry forms are available online.

JNA Award Categories:

• Manufacturer of the Year
• Retailer of the Year
• Employer of the Year
• Brand of the Year
• Industry Innovation of the Year – Manufacturing
• Industry Innovation of the Year – Retail
• Sustainability Initiative of the Year
• Young Leader of the Year (Age 30 or below)
• 3 Decades of Excellence Award
• Outstanding Contribution to the Industry of the Year
• Lifetime Achievement Award
• Wonder of the World Award

Jewellery News Asia, first published in 1983, is the flagship magazine of UBM Asia's (www.ubmasia.com) Jewellery Group. The publication is a leader in providing the latest industry updates and in-depth reports, covering the international jewellery trade with an Asia insight. Following its success, the publication launched its online edition, www.jewellerynewsasia.com in June 2011.

Note for Editors:

1. About UBM Asia (www.ubmasia.com)
Owned by UBM plc listed on the London Stock Exchange, UBM Asia operates in 18 market sectors with headquarters in Hong Kong and subsidiary companies across Asia, including UBM China in Shanghai, Hangzhou, Guangzhou and Beijing. We have over 200 products including trade fairs, conferences, trade publications, B2B/B2C portals and virtual event services. As Asia's leading exhibition organiser and the biggest commercial organiser in the two fastest-growing markets in Asia – China and India – we stage the leading events of their kind across Asia. Our 150 events, 24 publications and 16 vertical portals serve a million-plus quality exhibitors, visitors, conference delegates, advertisers and subscribers from all over the world with high value face-to-face business-matching events, quality and instant news on market and industry trends and round-the-clock online trading networks and sourcing platforms. We have 1,000 staff in 21 major cities across Asia, stretching from Japan to Turkey.

2. About UBM plc (www.ubm.com)
UBM plc is a leading global company. We inform markets and bring the world's buyers and sellers together at events, online, in print and provide them with the information they need to do business successfully. We focus on serving professional commercial communities, from doctors to game developers, from journalists to jewellery traders, and from farmers to pharmacists around the world. Our 6,600 staff in more than 31 countries are organised into specialist teams that serve these communities, helping them to do business effectively and efficiently.

3. About UBM Awards
UBM Awards is UBM plc's awards organiser and producer. Based in London, UBM Awards specialises in end-to-end delivery of cross-sector awards programmes and bespoke events worldwide. UBM Awards organises more than 30 awards and bespoke events annually including the National Business Awards, the Asian Awards and the National Sales Awards.

Please contact:

Jewellery News Asia
UBM Asia (Hong Kong)
+852-2516-1683
[email protected]

Paul Pimlett, Events Director
UBM Awards (UK)
+44 (0) 20-7921-8090
[email protected]

SOURCE UBM Asia Ltd