LONDON – The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC), the leading global standard-setting organization for the jewellery and watch industry, has officially launched the roadmap for its 2026 Board of Directors elections. As the industry continues to navigate a complex landscape of sustainability, ethical sourcing, and consumer transparency, these elections serve as a pivotal moment for members to define the strategic trajectory of the organization.
With the voting period now concluded, the focus shifts toward the upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) on May 27, 2026, where the new leadership will be formally inaugurated. This transition is not merely a procedural formality; it represents the heartbeat of the RJC’s democratic governance, ensuring that the diverse voices within the global supply chain—from miners to retailers—remain represented at the highest level of oversight.
The Strategic Importance of Board Governance
Board elections within the RJC are the primary mechanism by which the organization maintains its mandate of "responsible business practices." Unlike many industry bodies that operate top-down, the RJC relies on a member-driven governance structure. This structure is designed to foster a balanced ecosystem where no single sector can exert undue influence, thereby safeguarding the integrity of the RJC’s standards and the credibility of its certification processes.
Ensuring Balanced Representation
The RJC Board is purposefully constructed to include representation from every member forum. Each forum—ranging from diamond miners and laboratory-grown materials producers to jewellery retailers and trade associations—is allocated a specific number of seats. This structural design ensures that the board’s decision-making reflects the realities of the entire value chain. When a mining company and a high-street retailer sit at the same table, the resulting policies are inherently more robust and applicable to the challenges faced by both upstream and downstream entities.
The Personal Capacity Mandate
A defining feature of the RJC board structure is that Directors are elected in their personal capacity. They do not serve as proxies for their employers; rather, they bring their individual professional expertise, moral judgment, and industry insight to the table. This distinction is critical to the RJC’s mission, as it encourages directors to act in the best interests of the industry as a whole, rather than lobbying for the narrow commercial interests of their parent companies.
Chronology of the 2026 Election Cycle
The 2026 election cycle was executed through a highly structured, time-sensitive process managed via the LUMI platform. This digital-first approach was designed to maximize accessibility while ensuring the highest standards of security and auditability.
Step 1: The Nomination Phase (March 2 – April 10, 2026)
The process commenced on March 2, 2026. During this window, member companies and associations were invited to submit candidates for both the Board Officer positions and their specific Member Forum seats. The nomination process required rigorous vetting to ensure that all candidates met the criteria for leadership.
Step 2: The Voting Phase (April 14 – May 22, 2026)
Following the close of nominations, the election moved to the voting stage. Only members in "good standing"—those without critical breaches, overdue fees, or expired certifications—were eligible to participate. This eligibility requirement serves as a filter, ensuring that only those who adhere to the very standards the RJC promotes are permitted to vote on its leadership.
Step 3: The Annual General Meeting (May 27, 2026)
The culmination of the cycle is the AGM, scheduled for May 27, 2026, at 13:00 UK time. It is here that the democratic process concludes. The results will be announced, and the new Board of Directors will be seated. Members are encouraged to attend via the secure LUMI link to witness the official transition of leadership and hear the strategic priorities for the coming year.
Supporting Data: Understanding the Election Architecture
The 2026 election covers a broad range of leadership roles. To understand the scale of this governance cycle, one must look at the specific seats being contested.
The Officer Roles
This year, the RJC sought candidates for three key officer positions:
- Vice-Chair: Responsible for supporting the Chair and ensuring continuity of governance.
- Hon. Secretary: Tasked with the oversight of administrative compliance and board records.
- Treasurer: A critical role involving the fiscal oversight and financial health of the organization.
Member Forum Seats
The board utilizes a rotation system. Each year, the longest-serving Director from each forum retires, creating a vacancy that ensures fresh perspectives are regularly introduced to the board. The distribution of seats across the forums is as follows:
| Member Forum | Positions |
|---|---|
| Diamond, gold and/or PGM miner | 2 |
| Laboratory-grown materials producer | 3 |
| Diamond trader and/or cutter and polisher | 2 |
| Gold and/or PGM trader, refiner, hedger | 1 |
| Jewellery manufacturer/wholesaler | 1 |
| Jewellery Retailer | 1 |
| Service Industries | 1 |
| Trade Associations | 1 |
This distribution underscores the RJC’s commitment to reflecting the evolving nature of the jewellery market, particularly the increasing prominence of laboratory-grown materials, which now command significant board presence.
Official Guidelines and Communication Protocols
Effective communication is the cornerstone of any democratic process, especially one involving a global membership base. The RJC has streamlined this through the use of the LUMI digital engagement platform.
The Designated AGM Contact
To prevent confusion and ensure that voting is centralized, the RJC requires each member company to appoint a single "Designated AGM Contact." This individual is the sole recipient of all election-related communications, secure login credentials, and voting documentation.
The RJC has urged members to verify their designated contact via the RJC Member Portal. If a company has experienced personnel turnover or requires an update to their contact information, they are encouraged to reach out to the RJC membership team immediately. Relying on outdated information is the most common cause of missed voting windows or technical hurdles during the election cycle.
Troubleshooting and Support
For any inquiries regarding eligibility, the nomination process, or technical issues with the LUMI portal, the RJC maintains a dedicated support channel: [email protected]. By centralizing inquiries, the RJC ensures that all members receive consistent, accurate information, thereby maintaining the fairness of the election.
Implications: What This Means for the Industry
The outcome of the 2026 elections carries significant weight for the future of responsible jewellery. As consumer demand for transparency reaches an all-time high, the leadership elected by the members will be responsible for several key initiatives:
1. Strengthening Certification Standards
The incoming board will likely face the task of refining the Code of Practices (COP) to address emerging challenges, such as the traceability of recycled metals and the complexities of human rights due diligence in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM).
2. Navigating the Lab-Grown vs. Natural Debate
With three seats dedicated to laboratory-grown materials producers, the board is uniquely positioned to mediate the evolving relationship between natural and synthetic stone markets. The leadership must ensure that both sectors compete on a level playing field while maintaining the high ethical standards that define the RJC brand.
3. Digital Transformation
The use of the LUMI platform for the 2026 election is a microcosm of the industry’s broader shift toward digitization. The new board will be tasked with steering the RJC toward a future where blockchain and digital ledgers might eventually replace traditional, paper-based compliance tracking.
4. Global Advocacy
Beyond internal governance, the RJC Board serves as the primary advocate for the industry on the global stage. Whether engaging with the OECD, the UN, or various national governments, the board’s legitimacy is derived directly from the strength of its democratic mandate.
Conclusion: A Call to Continued Engagement
As the industry prepares for the AGM on May 27, 2026, the message from the RJC leadership is clear: the strength of the organization is a direct reflection of the participation of its members. The voting process is more than a administrative task; it is an act of collective stewardship.
By participating in these elections, members ensure that the RJC remains a robust, transparent, and credible force for good. Whether you are a small-scale independent retailer or a multinational mining corporation, your vote—and the leadership you choose—will shape the standards that define the jewellery industry for years to come.
For those who have participated in this cycle, the wait is almost over. On May 27, the results will be unveiled, and the next chapter of the Responsible Jewellery Council will begin. Members are encouraged to keep a close watch on their inboxes and social media channels for the final announcement of the new Board of Directors.
