Rahul Desai Appointed Honorary Education Director of the Lab-Grown Diamond & Jewellery Promotion Council (LGDJPC)

The Lab-Grown Diamond & Jewellery Promotion Council (LGDJPC) has announced the appointment of Mr. Rahul Desai, Managing Director and CEO of the International Institute of Gemology (IIG), as its Honorary Education Director. This appointment represents a key step in advancing education, transparency, and informed dialogue within the fast-growing lab-grown diamond industry.

A leading authority in gem and jewellery education, Rahul Desai has consistently emphasized that education should not merely respond to industry trends, but shape them. In his new honorary capacity, he will collaborate with the Council to develop educational frameworks that promote awareness and understanding of lab-grown diamonds (LGDs) through research, skill development, and open knowledge exchange.

The LGDJPC, a not-for-profit body representing growers and traders within the lab-grown diamond ecosystem, aims to go beyond advocacy by fostering trust, balance, and coexistence across the wider diamond sector.

“Education brings neutrality, and neutrality builds trust,” said Rahul Desai. “My goal is to encourage informed, transparent, and skill-based engagement around lab-grown diamonds—where understanding is guided by knowledge rather than perception. True education should illuminate every perspective, enabling all stakeholders to interact with clarity and confidence.”

Under his guidance, the Council’s educational initiatives will focus on creating open communication between manufacturers, retailers, and educators, establishing clear standards, enhancing product knowledge, and nurturing the next generation of professionals.

Shashikant D. Shah, Chairman of LGDJPC, commented, “Rahul Desai embodies the perfect blend of academic depth and industry experience. His appointment underscores our commitment to credible, unbiased education that elevates the conversation around lab-grown diamonds. We believe his leadership will strengthen both natural and lab-grown segments through knowledge and mutual respect.”

This partnership between LGDJPC and IIG reflects a shared conviction: that education is the cornerstone of innovation, ethics, and sustainable growth within the diamond industry.