RJC names new standards committee co-chairs

The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) has appointed two new co-chairs to its standards committee following its meeting in London. 

Sara Yood, chief executive of the Jewellers Vigilance Committee, and Eduard Stefanescu, sustainability manager at C.Hafner, will take up their positions on 1 January 2026.

The committee is responsible for maintaining the organisation’s codes of practice and laboratory grown materials standards. 

The appointments come as the RJC reaches a membership of more than 2,000 companies across 74 countries.

Yood serves in a personal capacity and brings expertise in consumer protection and US jewellery market regulations. 

Meanwhile, Stefanescu, a geoscientist, oversees international refining and recycling operations and holds leadership roles within the European and German precious metals federations.

The RJC also confirmed several new committee members from across the industry, including representatives from De Beers, Fura Gems, and the Dubai Diamond Exchange. 

Non-industry appointments include research fellows from Chatham House and specialists in consumer protection and human rights.

The new members replace outgoing industry figures such as Purvi Shah of De Beers and Ainsley Butler of Building Markets, who both previously served as co-chairs. 

The full committee is meeting in London between 16 and 18 December to manage the leadership transition.

John Hall, interim executive director of the RJC, said: “We are delighted to welcome Sara and Eduard as Co-Chairs, along with our new committee members whose expertise spans the entire jewellery and mining ecosystem. Their collective leadership will help ensure RJC’s standards remain credible, inclusive, and aligned with global expectations on human rights, environmental responsibility, and supply-chain integrity.”

Yood added: “As I step into the co-chair role, in which I serve in my personal capacity, I am looking forward to continuing the complicated but rewarding work of updating and maintaining the various RJC standards. We know that the nuance of the text is vitally important to the businesses that rely on it.”

Stefanescu concluded: “My goal is to help RJC remain the frontrunner in developing standards and guidance that embed sustainability, ESG principles, transparency, and responsible supply chains, while encouraging collaboration and constructive dialogue across the industry.”