Russell Shor, in his 40 plus years of experience in gemstone industry:
- Has visited and reported from major gemstone and diamond production areas around the world.
- Authored white papers on key emerging consumer markets for gemstones in due diligence planning.
- Been a consultant for International strategies from production to consumer markets.
- Authored reports that explain and analyze challenges facing diamond and gemstone issues for the industry and consumers as well as analyze various segments of diamond and gemstone industry in GIA’s scientific journal.
- Been a spokesperson at GIA for economic, social and other issues affecting diamond, gemstone, cultured pearl industries.
He has been interviewed by New York Times, CNN, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times of London, Bloomberg, Canadian Broadcasting Corp., National Public Radio, New Yorker Magazine and numerous other international press organizations and addressed international conferences in Basel, Switzerland, Shanghai, Dubai, New York, London and appeared on the History Channel.
Russell Shor has a MS in International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania and worked on political risk strategies through the University for various clients and a depress in Journalism and Political Science from Temple University in Philadelphia, USA.
In the field, research facilities and gemstones
Miners, Dealers, Wholesalers and Retailers all operate in their own realities often with little awareness of the other’s. Today’s consumers, however, want to know the realities of every step of a gemstone’s journey and, quite often, make their buying decisions upon whether or not they were produced , polished and traded ethically and responsibly.
Russell Shor has the experience in each component of the gemstone pipeline to devise strategies and communications informed by all these separate realities.
WHAT I DO:
- Analyse and advise on market-based solutions for sustainable gemstone production, market access, and marketing.
- Author consumer-facing articles and reports on these topics as well as content for individual firms.
- Write a blog on a monthly basis to illuminate and explain these issues.
- Advise of Public Relations staff on media strategies, gemstone industry issues, and international opportunities.
DEPTH OF EXPERIENCE:
- 40 years of authoring articles for public awareness and white papers for senior stakeholders in the USA, Europe, Dubai, and Africa.
- Observing and advising on-site at artisanal and organized mining operations worldwide, addressing community, environmental, labour, and market challenges.
- Reporting on technological developments on recovery, cutting and processing, and tracking, including blockchain.
- Working on projects to improve returns for artisanal gemstone miners, and beneficiation/value addition to African diamond producers.
Learn how Russell can assist you today!
What Others Say
Every industry has their legends. The jewellery industry has Russell Shor. As a senior executive at De Beers and then the head of the Responsible Jewellery Council, I have found Russell to be an invaluable journeyman, a source of wise counsel, a pragmatic, reliable and skilled industry player. If you’re looking for expertise to advise you on taking your business to the next level, a mentor to help you navigate a challenging and competitive landscape, an industry veteran to provide you with the wherewithal to identify and mitigate risk whilst at the same time to recognise unforeseen opportunities, then Russell is the obvious choice. ANDREW BONE
Former Director Responsible Jewellery Council and De Beers’ Global Head of Government and Industry Relations
While I was taking courses at Gemological Institute of America (GIA) to further my knowledge of the diamond industry, I attended a few of Mr. Shor’s presentations. His insight was amazing. I later approached him for guidance with my NGO as it was situated in the diamond region of Ghana. My NGO had the goal of building a community centre in Akwatia, Eastern Region of Ghana. Not only did Mr. Shor agree to act as a board member, he was able to provide us with sound advice to ensure the successful integration of the centre with the community. He advised on how to integrate the center with the families, the needs of artisanal diamond miners and increase the miners’ access to the rough diamond markets. He had a full grasp on the methods to increase the social return of local alluvial diamond production to the community. As well, it was a great pleasure to work with Mr. Shor. JACQUIELINE PRAIRIE
Former Director Ghana-Africa, International Organization
I had the pleasure of working with Russell for over 5 years at GIA. He always provided a clear and thoughtful voice to enable everyone, from industry stakeholders to the consumer, to understand market forces affecting the jewelry, diamond and gemstone markets. He was also instrumental in helping GIA establish beneficiation efforts in southern Africa as well as articulating realistic responsible mining and labor practices throughout the supply chain. He is a resource that can be counted on for straightforward and honest information.PATRICIA FLYNN SYVRUD
Program Manager, University of Delaware; Member, Governance Committee at Public Private Alliance for Responsible Minerals Trade; Member, Board of Directors, US Kimberley Process Authority
Russell Shor correctly identified sustainability as a key issue for the diamond and jewelry sector long before the conflict diamonds situation came to light, and before anyone else in the diamond sector even gave passing thought to the idea of sustainability. Russ’s educational background in international politics, combined with his astute instincts as a journalist, led to the development of his global view of the larger picture of the industry. Traveling to remote diamond- and gold-producing regions in the 1980s, he observed both the many positive and potentially negative impacts the industry had and would have on the people in those regions. Further travels to emerging manufacturing sectors resulted in keen knowledge of the impacts on downstream levels of the jewelry supply chain as well. Today, with more than 40 years of industry analysis and deep contacts in the diamond, gold, and newer sustainability sectors, he’s able to narrow in on any issue with a sharp perspective on what it means both tactically in the short term and strategically in the long term.HEDDA SCHUPAK
Board Member, Diamond Development Initiative, Communications Manager Centurion Group, Former Editor JCK Magazine