Ute Decker honoured with Award for Ethical and Responsible Jewelry Leadership: New York, USA
Ute Decker is delighted and honoured to be the Recipient of IAC’s 2025 Award for Leadership in Responsible Practice in Jewelry for her passionate advocacy for ethical, transparent, and responsible jewelry making practice paired with her impressive creative vision.
Eye on the Prize: Towards Continuing Improvement in Practice and Artistry
at 15th International Gold + Diamond Conference 2025, NY, by Initiatives in Art and Culture
Ute will be travelling to NY to receive the Award at the IAC’s Gold + Diamond Conference this July.
For 15 years, IAC’s Gold + Diamond Conference has been informed by two primary concerns: how to define and achieve responsible practice on the one hand, and how to preserve and celebrate ethical artisanry and artistic vision on the other. While our perspective on these concerns is ever-broadening, our goal is unchanged: to initiate dialogue and inspire change without fear.
As the precious metals, gemstone, and jewelry sectors face upheaval, whether political, military, economic, or technological, we must keep our “eye on the prize”: a flourishing and habitable planet on which the centrality of heritage and artisanry is recognized. Now, more than ever, we need an inclusive conversation with input from every corner of industry, from large-scale mining entities to craftspeople at the bench, if this prize is to be won.
We must recognize that the objects we craft, the techniques used in the crafting, and the impulse to make them (in sum, cultural tradition) are critical resources meriting protection. We must also recognize that the practice and preservation of cultural tradition is inextricably linked to human rights and responsible practice. This commitment to fair trade, ethical sourcing, and sustainable production is paramount for ethical luxury jewelry.
Conference Focus Areas for a more Sustainable Jewelry Future
With its eye on the prize, the Conference will consider the following:
- The consequences of accelerated climate change and the quest for a “just transition”
- How to protect human rights—broadly defined—in the precious metals, gemstone, and jewelry sectors
- Strategies by which producing nations can retain greater value in-country
- How to preserve natural resources, broadly defined to include craft, cultural traditions, and heritage.
The Conference will also consider Heritage Houses, an iconic watch brand, innovations in supply chain traceability, nomenclature underpinning clear discourse, artisanal makers pushing the boundaries of craft, and a major chapter in cultural restitution. We’ll also look closely at case studies demonstrating effective solutions across a range of challenges in the precious metals, gemstone, and jewelry sectors. Topics we will also touch upon include recycled gold and conflict-free diamonds.
"The Art and Culture’s Annual Gold & Diamonds Conferences offer an invaluable opportunity to engage with diverse and influential voices across the gold and wider jewellery world. I am honoured to join this crucial debate with industry leaders, policymakers and inspiring change-makers on fostering a more just, equal, and environmentally responsible industry. As an artist and activist, I welcome these essential conversations about a material so central to my practice, our environment, and the millions it affects worldwide." – Ute Decker
Critical Industry Questions towards Responsible Jewellery
We will also explore the most critical questions facing the industry:
- We will also explore the most critical questions facing the industry:
- How do we define models intended to achieve continued and measurable improvement across the industry that are, at the same time, respectful of cultures and established systems?
- How do we preserve antiquities and artifact that might be contested while respecting their origin and cultural importance? How do we address related questions of ownership?
- How do we meet the latest challenges facing the diamond and colored stones sectors?
- How do we ensure that the full spectrum of strategies for responsibly sourcing gold is recognized?
- How is the definition of “precious” evolving? How do we determine what is “precious,” whether in terms of material or practice? Is there a contemporary understanding of “precious” that is more accurate and equitable
- How do we ensure that craft and artisanry are passed on to the next generation and more broadly understood as humanity’s shared intangible cultural heritage? And in so doing, how might we redefine the notion of “heritage”?
- How can we translate a fuller awareness of human and cultural resources into positive market and customer expectations?
The preeminent global gathering of professionals in precious metals, gemstones, and jewelry, IAC’s Gold + Diamond Conference has, since 2011, brought together key players from industry, government, NGOs, academia, museums, and the collecting community, as well as jewelers, goldsmiths, and designers to discuss issues of critical importance, to seek common purpose regarding responsible jewelry practice, and to celebrate the highest standards in jewelry craft and design. IAC is known throughout the industry as a nonpartisan player and an ethically driven convener focused on creating an open forum for discourse, building consensus, and finding solutions for a more conscious and sustainable future for jewellery.
Speakers Include
- Ivor Agyeman-Duah (Central Bank of Ghana; Director, The Manhyia Palace Museum; adviser to the King of Asante; Ghana’s chief negotiator on restitution with the British Museum, the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Fowler Museum, and AngloGold Ashanti)
- Rob Bates (News Director, JCK)
- Charlie Betts (Managing Director, Betts Metals)
- Edward Bickham (Senior Advisor, World Gold Council)
- David Block (CEO, Sarine)
- Rachel Brandrick (Marketing Director, 886 by The Royal Mint)
- Brecken Branstrator (Editor-in-Chief, GemGuide)
- Brad Brooks-Rubin (Partner, Arktouros; former Senior Advisor, Office of Sanctions Coordination, US Department of State)
- Laurent E. Cartier (Head of Special Initiatives, Swiss Gemmological Institute; co-founder, Sustainable Pearls)
- Gaetano Cavalieri (President, CIBJO)
- Emefa Cole (Jeweler, goldsmith, and Curator, Jewelry of the Diaspora, Victoria & Albert Museum)
- Ute Decker (Artist-jeweler)
- Mark Emanuel (Co-owner, David Webb Jewelry)
- Lester Friedlander (President, Clover II Corporation)
- Shari Gittleman (Senior Director, Newmont)
- Donell Hutson (Design Director, Citizen Watch America)
- Estelle Levin-Nally (CEO | Board Member, Levin Resources)
- Nicolas Luchsinger (CEO, Buccellati)
- Holly McHugh (Vice President, Sustainability & Social Impact, Mejuri)
- Jennifer Moriconi (Chief Sustainability Officer, iTraceiT; President, OWIT Brussels)
- John Mulligan (Head of Sustainability Strategy, World Gold Council; President, Sustainable Development Commission, World Jewellery Confederation [CIBJO])
- Jaasi Munanka (Head of Legal Operations, Africa, AngloGold Ashanti)
- Barbara Palumbo (Watch and fine jewelry journalist; creator / editor, WhatsOnHerWrist.com)
- Rachel Perks (Senior Mining Specialist, Energy and Extractives Global Practice, The World Bank)
- Kyle Roderick (Journalist; founder and Editor-in-Chief, BIJOUXreview)
- Carl Rosen (Former Chief Marketing Officer and Museum Director, Bulova)
- Amish Shah (Founder & CEO, ALTR Created Diamonds and J’evar Co.)
- Lucian Simmons (Head of Provenance Research, The Metropolitan Museum of Art)
- Ruby Stocklin-Weinberg (Program Manager, GemFair, De Beers)
- Giorgio de Tomi (Professor, Polytechnic School and Director, Research Center for Responsible Mining, University of São Paolo)
- Ronnie VanderLinden (Vice President, World Diamond Council)
- Cristina Villegas (Founder / director, Nature’s Wealth)
- Lorraine West (Jewelry designer)
- Laurie Watt (Co-owner, Mayer & Watt)
- Simon Watt (Co-owner, Mayer & Watt)
- Kat Weymouth (Director, Diamond and Jewelry Services, SCS Global Services)
- Sara Yood (President, CEO & General Counsel, JVC)
Register eventbrite.com/e/15th-annual-international-gold-and-diamond-conference-tickets
Eye on the Prize
15th International Gold + Diamond Conference 2025
Initiatives in Art and Culture
July 14 (evening) - July 16, 2025
Bohemian National Hall
321 E 73rd St
New York, NY
artinitiatives.com/2025-gold-diamonds-conference-eye-on-the-prize
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Ute Decker, press@utedecker.com, +44 7961 355594
Ute Decker Honored for Pioneering Ethical Leadership in Jewelry
NEW YORK, NY – July 9, 2025 – Visionary artist jeweler Ute Decker will receive the prestigious Initiatives in Art and Culture (IAC)'s 2025 Award for Leadership in Responsible Practice in Jewelry. Lisa Koenigsberg, founder and director of the Initiatives in Art and Culture comments: “Ute Decker is widely recognized for her tireless advocacy of environmental stewardship, fairness in materials sourcing, and the importance of transparency and ethics in the creative process. Decker's work exemplifies a synthesis of aesthetic mastery and ethical resolve, offering a model for what contemporary jewelry can and should stand for.”
Decker will accept the award at the 15th Annual International Gold + Diamond Conference in New York, held in person from July 14-16, 2025. This year's program addresses the complexity and possibility of jewelry's future, reinforcing IAC's commitment to shaping responsible, inclusive, and visionary industry practices.
Amidst global transformations like geopolitical tensions, climate crises, and shifting consumer values, the conference renews a call for shared purpose: safeguarding the planet, protecting human rights, and preserving artistry and cultural traditions.
Interdisciplinary speakers include Rachel Perks (World Bank), Emefa Cole (V&A), Lucian Simmons (The Met), John Mulligan (World Gold Council, CIBJO), Gaetano Cavalieri (CIBJO), Nicolas Luchsinger (Buccellati), Mark Emanuel (David Webb), and Ivor Agyeman-Duah (Manhyia Palace Museum, Ghana's chief negotiator on cultural restitution).
A Visionary at the Intersection of Art and Ethics
Since her impactful 2009 debut, Ute Decker's 'arrestingly beautiful wearable sculptures' with their originality have established her as an influential voice in contemporary jewelry. The Financial Times describes her work as 'a powerful statement' that sets 'a shining ethical example,' earning her rapid acclaim, including her recent inclusion in Phaidon's 'The Jewellery Book,' edited by Melanie Grant, which features 300 of history's greatest names.
Her distinctive sculptural forms are exhibited globally and held in prestigious collections, including the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Swiss National Museum, and a recent special commission for the Dallas Museum of Art, where her 18kt Fairtrade gold hand sculpture will be featured in “Constellations,” a major exhibition of contemporary jewelry opening in November 2025.
Beyond aesthetics, Ute Decker’s pieces are rooted in profound ethical commitment. She was one of the first globally to champion and work with Fairtrade Gold, rigorously tracing materials from mine to finished piece by supporting small-scale and artisanal mining communities. Her dedication extends to using only non-toxic chemicals in her studio and advocating for industry-wide transparency. Decker's extensive research became the foundational content for EthicalMaking.org, the most comprehensive global resource for responsible jewelry practices.
Decker’s grounding in political economics, journalism, and languages provides the intellectual framework for art that consistently engages with themes of integrity and interconnectedness. Her simple inquiry – "Where do my materials come from?" – led to years of research, prompting a V&A invitation for an exhibition proposal where she delved deeper into gold's entire story – tracing its cosmic origins forged in supernova explosions, its darker destructive realities, its path through diverse civilizations, its inherent beauty, and its intricate historical, artistic, and cultural significance.
The IAC Award: A Testament to Enduring Impact
The 8th Responsible Practice in Jewelry Leadership Award will be presented to Ute Decker during a dedicated Awards Ceremony and Reception on Tuesday, July 15, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
"This award is a deep honor," says Ute Decker. "It acknowledges years of quiet, persistent work advocating for more equitable practices in an industry where such voices remain often unwelcome. Yet, it also celebrates the growing momentum, shaped by the insights and courage of countless individuals from a myriad endeavors and historical moments.
My degree in political economics instilled in me a deep interest in context — the unseen connections shaping our visible world. As a winemaker's daughter, I also learned early how careful stewardship of soil, the very weather, and the vintner's skill are all essential for a good vintage. This holistic approach also guides my jewelry making: if my gold, if any material, may carry a hidden stain of Amazon destruction, exploitation, or illicit gain, then for me, outward allure is mere illusion. I want my pieces to have a true beauty from the inside out.
Equitable provenance isn't just a detail; it's a deeply felt philosophy. This award strengthens my resolve to underscore the fundamental principle that authentic artistry, running a business, and our profound human responsibility — and dreams — are not separate paths. Even when we are taken on unexpected directions, fraught with uncertainties and difficult choices. These decisions are inherently linked, each illuminating the other.
I see my works as having a history, a soul, they create meaning and no matter how small – will be playing their part in shaping our future — because everything is interconnected."
Registration for the 15th Annual Gold + Diamond Conference is now open on Eventbrite.
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utedecker.com - artinitiatives.com
Press Images utedecker.com/press-news/press-room/
Media Contact Ute Decker, press@utedecker.com, +44 7961 355594
IAC Media Inquiries: IAC Press Release. Olga Gonzalez, Initiatives in Art and Culture, +1 2129139761, info@pietrapr.com
Forthcoming exhibitions & events of Ute Decker
Wartski The Brooch – from 1200 BC to the Contemporary, 1 – 12 Oct | London
Goldsmiths’ Fair, week 1, 23 - 28 Sep | London
Constellations: Contemporary Jewelry at the Dallas Museum of Art, 9 Nov – 3 May 2026| Dallas
The Jewellery Book by Melanie Grant (Phaidon), out Sep 2025
Press Images utedecker.com/press-news/press-room/
1. Ute Decker holding 18Kt Fairtrade gold hand sculpture. Photo Alun Callender
2. Calligraphy hand sculptures by Ute Decker in 18Kt Fairtrade gold. Photo Jamie Trounce.
3., Portrait of artist jeweler Ute Decker. Photo Alun Callender.