Terry Coldham has been elected president of the Gemmological Association of Australia at the assocation’s ‘Expect the Unexpected’ Federal Conference.
Coldham, the managing director of gemstone wholesale company Sapphex, was elected for a three-year term.
Coldham, who began his career working at a Prouds Jewellery Repair counter in 1965 and gained his Diploma of Gemmology in 1966, said the GAA needed to adopt “a much more professional approach”.
“The GAA has been the main providers of education and courses to the jewellery industry for over fifty years,” he said.
“During this time the Association has experienced a strong and steady growth in the scope of courses it now offers through six capital teaching centres.
“I believe the time has now come for the Association to adopt a much more professional approach to its operations Australia-wide.
“It is my hope that the next three years will see the GAA moulded into a well managed and operated teaching organisation that serves the educational needs of the Australian jewellery industry in an efficient and effective manner.”
Other new GAA executive members to be elected at the Conference were Ronnie Bauer (chairman), Katherine Kovacs (secretary) and Margerita Blazic (treasurer).
