Informa Markets has announced 18 recipients of the NextGen Coloured Gem Excellence Awards by JWA (Jewellery World Awards), recognising a new generation of professionals shaping the coloured gemstone trade.
The 2026 awardees represent gemstone trading, jewellery design, gemmology, education and market development, with professionals from India, Thailand, Germany, the US, Canada, Brazil, Sri Lanka, China, Taiwan and Vietnam.
The recipients include Mahima Bardiya, Designer at RMC Gems India; Jaimeen Shah, Partner at Prima Gems USA; Amira Hatta, Managing Director of ICA GemLab; E. Billie Hughes, Co-Founder of Lotus Gemology; and Naftali Gad, Director at Michael Gad Emerald.
According to Informa Markets, the selected professionals are contributing to areas including transparency, traceability, education and digital innovation, reflecting changing priorities within the coloured gemstone supply chain.
Celine Lau, Director of Jewellery Fairs at Informa Markets, said the sector is moving towards a future centred on heritage, trust and integrity, with younger leaders combining established industry practices with innovation.
The recipients will be honoured at an awards ceremony during the JGW September reception on 16 September. Some awardees will also take part in panel discussions at the GEM+ Conference on 17 September.
The initiative is positioned by Informa Markets as a platform to recognise emerging talent while encouraging collaboration and knowledge-sharing across the coloured gemstone industry.