Industry gurus return as JNA Awards judges

Industry gurus return as JNA Awards judges

James Courage, Albert Cheng and Lin Qiang lead JNA Awards 2014 judging panel

HONG KONG, April 14, 2014 – JNA (Jewellery News Asia), organiser of the prestigious JNA Awards, is pleased to announce that some of the most renowned experts and respected names in the jewellery industry will return as members of the independent judging panel for the third straight year. They are James Courage, CEO of Platinum Guild International (PGI); Albert Cheng, Managing Director of the World Gold Council, Far East (WGC); and Lin Qiang, President and Managing Director of the Shanghai Diamond Exchange (SDE).

The JNA Awards seeks to honour companies and individuals that have demonstrated excellence and made positive contributions to their businesses and communities. Judging of the Awards is an independent, transparent and rigorous process. More prominent industry experts will be announced soon to complete the judging panel, which will represent the sectors and regions key to the jewellery trade.

(From left) James Courage,CEO of Platinum Guild International; Albert Cheng, Managing Director of World Gold Council, Far East; Lin Qiang, President and Managing Director of the Shanghai Diamond Exchange

“We are very pleased to once again welcome these three outstanding industry leaders as principal members of the JNA Awards’ highly-esteemed panel of judges. They have been with us since the start of the Awards and will continue to lend their voice of authority, valuable insight and unparalleled expertise in the judging process,” said Letitia Chow, Founder of JNA and Director of Business Development – Jewellery Group at UBM Asia.

Courage commented, “I am honoured to have been invited to be a judge for the JNA Awards 2014. I have valued the opportunity to have participated in the judging process for the last two years and thus witnessed both the rising standards and growing number of entries from all levels of the jewellery industry for these prestigious and innovative awards.” Since 1996, Courage has been PGI’s CEO, responsible for its global jewellery development programmes, including the launch of marketing initiatives in China and India. He is also currently the Chairman of the Responsible Jewellery Council.

Cheng said, “I am proud to once again be selected as a judge of the JNA Awards. This awards programme is gaining recognition in the jewellery industry. Last year, we saw a considerable increase in the number of entries. I hope that we would see more entries this year, particularly from Asia. If you haven’t submitted your entry yet, start doing so to avoid the rush.” Cheng joined the WGC regional office in Singapore in March 1993 as Regional Manager for planning and business development in the Far East. In 2003, he was appointed to his current role with responsibility for operations in the entire region.

Lin added, “I am extremely delighted to once again be part of the JNA Awards judging panel. Since its inception, the Awards has recognised industry excellence in a very transparent process. I am proud to be a part of the JNA Awards, which promotes excellence in the jewellery industry.” Since 2000, Lin has been the President and Managing Director of the SDE, the only official diamond trading platform in mainland China, which leads the implementation of an effective government policy for the country’s diamond industry.

The JNA Awards will culminate with a ceremony and gala dinner on Tuesday, September 16, at the InterContinental Hong Kong, during the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair. The Awards has Rio Tinto Diamonds and Chow Tai Fook as Headline Partners, with Diarough Group, Gübelin Group, Israel Diamond Institute, KARP Group, Paspaley Pearling Company and SDE as Honoured Partners.

Now on its third year, JNA Awards 2014 is accepting entries for 16 categories. Deadline for entries is April 17, 2014, midnight Hong Kong time. For enquiries and online application form, please visit the Awards’ website at www.jnaawards.com.