JNA Awards 2019 Is Open For Entries. JNA Awardsinvitesqualified companies and individuals to take part in the highly anticipated JNA Awards 2019. Now in its eighth edition, the annual awards programme is officially open and will accept entries until 26 April 2019.
Partners, judges and collaborating organisation at the JNA Awards 2019 Open for Entries Presentation. (From left) James Courage, Abhishek Parekh, KGK Group; Peter Suen, Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group; Letitia Chow, UBM Asia; Caroline Yuan, Shanghai Diamond Exchange; Liu Zheng, Guangdong Land Holdings Limited; Mark Lee; and
Edward Johnson, Responsible Jewellery Council
Organised by UBM Asia, the JNA Awards is dedicated to recognising, celebrating and encouraging best business practices, excellence and innovation. It has also honoured outstanding individuals and companies in the international jewellery and gemstone industry since its inception in 2012.
Interested enterprises and individuals may self-nominate or nominate others in the following categories:
- Brand of the Year – Retail
- eSupplier of the Year
- Industry Innovation of the Year (business model, management process, marketing or branding initiatives, manufacturing process, product development, technology, gemmological research)
- Manufacturer of the Year – Cutting & Polishing – Creativity and Innovation
- Manufacturer of the Year – Jewellery
- Outstanding Enterprise of the Year – China
- Outstanding Enterprise of the Year – Countries/Regions outside of India and China
- Outstanding Enterprise of the Year – India
- Retailer of the Year
- Sustainability Initiative of the Year
- Young Entrepreneur of the Year (age 40 and below)
- Lifetime Achievement Award (nominated by the organiser)
Entries will be evaluated by an esteemed panel of judges comprised of six international industry experts, namely:
- Albert Cheng, Advisor to the World Gold Council and former Managing Director, Far East (WGC)
- James Courage, former Chief Executive Officer of Platinum Guild International (PGI) and former Chairman of the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC)
- Lin Qiang, President and Managing Director of the Shanghai Diamond Exchange (SDE)
- Nirupa Bhatt, Managing Director of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in India and the Middle East
- Yasukazu Suwa, Chairman of Suwa & Son, Inc
- Mark Lee, Research Director of Asia Pacific Institute for Strategy
Albert Cheng shared, “Having been part of the judging panel for the past seven years, I have seen the discovery of many ‘glittering gems’ in our industry. By participating in the JNA Awards, your company, like ‘unpolished gemstones’ will be subjected to selection, cutting and polishing. If you are nominated and eventually win an award in your category, it would be like a hidden, beautiful rough stone transforming into glittering precious gemstones or diamonds. Are you ready to show us your ‘hidden gem’? We are waiting for you.”
“Take the opportunity to illustrate why you or your company deserve to lead in a JNA Awards category.Be part of an exclusive list of outstanding jewellery companies that have won or become Honourees in the JNA Awards– the only one that exclusively covers the jewellery industry,” James Courage added.
Letitia Chow, Chairperson of the JNA Awards, and Director of Business Development – Jewellery Group at UBM Asia, said, “In the past seven years, the JNA Awards has established itself as an influential platform for the international jewellery and gemstone industry to come together and share success cases for the advancement of the trade. We hope to continue to attract more innovators and pioneers to take part in this prestigious and inspiring awards event to showcase positive developments in the industry.”
JNA Awards 2019 is supported by Headline Partners Chow Tai Fook, the Shanghai Diamond Exchange, and DANAT, together with Honoured Partners KGK Group, China Gems and Jade Exchange, and Guangdong Land Holdings Limited.
Kent Wong, Managing Director of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group, said, “Chow Tai Fook is honoured to have been the Headline Partner of the JNA Awards since it was first staged in 2012. We have seen how the JNA Awards serves as a prestigious platform for bringing industry elites together and driving the industry towards excellence. We sincerely hope that more players in the sector will support our cause and be our partners in advancing the jewellery industry.”
Lin Qiang, President and Managing Director of SDE, shared, “The honour hall of the JNA Awards opens grandly again in 2019. Excellent enterprises fear neither competition nor challenge. They care more about showing the best of themselves. I look forward to the delightful surprises and brilliant performances they will bring us through this amazing opportunity.”
Kenneth Scarrat, CEO of Danat – Bahrain Institute for Pearls and Gemstones added, “Competition, from wherever it comes, drives the future. This is as true for the gemstone and jewellery sectors as it is for life itself. Those that ‘step up to the plate’ are the drivers of the future. Regardless of your sector, level of creativity or innovation, it is time to come forward and participate through the JNA Awards programme and show the world what it means to be an industry leader.”
Edward Johnson, Director of Business Development of Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) also shared, “RJC is proud to work in collaboration with UBM Asia to promote the JNA Awards, and we encourage eligible jewellery businesses to participate. By doing so, companies can demonstrate their commitment to best business practices, which is an effective step in improving the reputation of their business, and that of the gem and jewellery industry.”
To enter the JNA Awards, interested parties must complete and submit their entry forms no later than midnight (Hong Kong time) of 26 April 2019. Honourees or shortlisted entrants will be announced on 20 June 2019 at the June Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair.
