Ph.D Assheton S Carter – KEY NOTE SPEAKER

Assheton is a pioneering executive and NED on responsible sourcing, environmental markets, non-financial risk, and responsible investment in international and emerging markets. He has been at the forefront of the CSR movement for more than 25 years with a focus on the natural resource sector and international supply chains in the jewellery, luxury and auto and electronics OEM industries.

He is CEO of The Dragonfly Initiative, a sustainability advisory platform and incubator providing business development, risk management and programme and asset management services. He works with luxury brands in Europe and the USA, including Apple, Brilliant Earth, Bulgari, Cartier, Chopard, Kering, LVMH, Swarovski, Tiffany & Co., Van Cleef Arples, and with natural resource companies in Africa, Asia and Latin America, including Anglo American, Barrick, Gemfields, Goldlake, Muzo, Newmont, and RioTinto. Assheton has been Project Director for the Coloured Gemstones Working Group since its inception in 2015.

He is Topic Expert for the Standards Committee of the Responsible Jewellery Council and serves on a number of other boards and panels for standard-setting organizations including NGOs and private companies. He is a specialist in corporate voluntary standard-setting and certification schemes, value-chain development from mine to market, and in the gemstones and gold industries.

Assheton has launched and led a number of “best practice” initiatives with the extractive industries, and structured numerous innovative sustainable supply chains, including the first fully traceable gold and diamond jewellery for the world’s largest retailer, Wal-Mart and developed the only tracking system for “conflict-free” metals from the DRC used by electronics manufacturers in Europe and the United States. He has published over 20 book chapters and articles and holds a Ph.D from the Management and Development Schools of the University of Bath in the development impact of the global mining industry.