I’m currently the Chief Executive of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain (Gem-A), the longest established, international gem-teaching institute which now provides its highly acclaimed gemmology courses in 28 countries around the world. I’m the fourth generation of a well-known British jewellery business, but after gaining the Gem-A Gemmology Diploma (‘FGA’) with distinction in 1971, I combined my jewellery and archaeological interests and entered the consulting field, working with museums, auction houses, dealers and collectors worldwide advising within my specialist field of history of jewellery materials and technology, with a special focus on problems of authenticity – I’ve written and lectured widely on these subjects. I received my Doctorate from Durham University with a thesis covering the jewellery industry in Roman Egypt. I was Secretary General to CIBJO (The World Jewellery Confederation) 1995 – 2000 and then, after a brief return to consulting, joined Gem-A in 2004.