An industry release issued by the JAA stated that Karen Lindley, who holds a position on the JAA National Industry Advisory Council (NIAC), was assigned the role of supplier director on 9 November.
The position has been vacant since the departure of Laura Sawade in October.
As previously reported by Jeweller, Sawade was required to stand down from the NIAC – and thus vacate the JAA board director and vice president positions – following her resignation from South Australian-based supplier Peter W Beck.
According to the JAA statement, Lindley is a qualified gemmologist and National Council of Jewellery Valuers’ (NCJV) registered valuer with more than 40 years’ industry experience.
“Her extensive career began as an opal dealer where she became Australia’s first female qualified gemmologist with a large wholesale opal business,” the release read.
“Karen’s business skill set and ability to strategise combined with her experience have ensured her boutique, Diamonds by Design in the Sydney’s Dymocks Building, has been resilient to market forces since 1982 and has been a JAA member since 1985.”
The industry statement reported that Lindley had served on the NSW/ACT State Committee since 1985, chaired the JAA Opal Sector Committee and held a position on the JAA board from 2004 to 2006.
In addition to Lindley’s appointment, current JAA director George Proszkowiec has been appointed vice president.
Lindley and Proszkowiec will hold their new positions until 31 December 2016.
JAA executive director Amanda Hunter told Jeweller that plans after this period were expected to be finalised in December.
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