Organizers of the World Ruby Forum announced the lineup of speakers for the November 4th event in Bangkok in association with the CIBJO Congress.

Speakers include Richard W. Hughes of Lotus Gemology, who will address ‘Seeing Red: A Passionate Guide to Ruby;’ Vincent Pardieu of VP Consulting and Cedric Simonet from Akili Minerals Services will speak about ruby deposits in areas such as Africa, Madagascar and Greenland, just to name a few.

Duangkamol Jiambutr, Director of the Gem and Jewelry Institute of Thailand (GIT) will discuss gem and jewelry marketing with Santpal Sinchawla, of Sant Enterprises, Henry Ho, Chairman Emeritus of AIGS and President of Jewelry Trade Center, Andrew Cody of Cody Opal, Australia and former ICA President Paolo Valentini.

Sean Gilbertson, CEO, Gemfields Plc. and Nay Win Tun, Chairman of Ruby Dragon Group of Companies in Myanmar, will both address mine-to-market issues. Gaetano Cavalieri, President of World Jewellery Confederation, will address corporate social responsibility. Didier Giard, President of French Association of Gemmology, will present his findings on ruby during a panel discussion.

World known gemologists will participate in a panel moderated by Dr. Pornsawat Watanakul. Panelists include: Boontawee Sriprasert, Gem and Jewelry Institute of Thailand; Dr. Lu Taijin, National Gemstone Testing Center; Hpone Phyo Kan Nyunt, Gubelin Gem Lab; and Dr. Hanco Zwaan, Netherlands Gemmological Laboratory.

The organizing committee is made up of delegates from the Gem and Jewelry Institute of Thailand (GIT), the Thai Department of International Trade Promotion, Ministry of Commerce (DITP), the Asian Institute of Gemological Sciences (AIGS), the Jewelry Trade Center (JTC) and the Association Française de Gemmologie (AFG).

The goal of the organizers is to raise awareness and understanding of ruby through promotion to the general public, as well as to entrepreneurs and agencies in both government and the private sector, and to promote Thailand as the world’s jewelry trade center