The Lab-Grown Diamond & Jewellery Promotion Council (LGDJPC) has announced the appointment of Rahul Desai, Managing Director and CEO of the International Institute of Gemology (IIG), as its Honorary Education Director — a move that underscores the Council’s commitment to advancing education, transparency, and dialogue in the evolving diamond industry.

A respected authority in gem and jewellery education, Desai has been instrumental in shaping progressive learning frameworks for the industry. In his new honorary role, he will collaborate with the Council to design academic and training initiatives focused on knowledge-sharing, research, and skill-building to enhance understanding of lab-grown diamonds (LGDs) and their role in the modern market.

The LGDJPC, a not-for-profit body representing growers and traders of lab-grown diamonds, aims to promote informed coexistence, consumer confidence, and sustainable industry growth. With Desai’s appointment, the Council reinforces its vision of building an ecosystem where education serves as the bridge between innovation, ethics, and commerce.

“Education brings neutrality, and neutrality builds trust,” said Rahul Desai, reflecting on his appointment. “My goal is to foster informed, transparent, and skill-oriented discussions around lab-grown diamonds — where knowledge, not perception, shapes understanding. Education should not take sides; it should illuminate them.”

Under his leadership, LGDJPC’s educational programmes will focus on creating standards, enhancing product knowledge, and nurturing next-generation talent, enabling collaboration across the value chain — from manufacturers and retailers to educators and consumers.

Rajeshkumar Bajaj, Convener and Director of the LGDJPC, remarked, “The diamond industry is at a defining crossroads, requiring leadership that understands both tradition and transformation. Rahul’s ability to translate complex market shifts into actionable education makes him the ideal choice to guide this journey.”

Echoing this sentiment, Shashikant D. Shah, Chairman of the LGDJPC, added, “Rahul Desai embodies the perfect blend of academic insight and industry experience. His appointment reflects our dedication to promoting credible, unbiased education that builds trust and mutual respect between the natural and lab-grown diamond sectors.”

This collaboration between LGDJPC and IIG signifies a united effort to ensure that the diamond industry’s future is rooted in education, ethics, and evolution — paving the way for a transparent and inclusive global marketplace.