The ICA has scheduled our bi-annual Congress to take place in Brasilia, Brazil on the19th – 22nd of May, 2025. For all of you who have attended ICA Congress in past years, you understand the incredible opportunity that awaits. Our industry, and particularly colored gemstones, has evolved into a global enterprise and our members, who represent forty-seven different countries, will gather, along with hundreds of industry colleagues, to partake in this always momentous event.
In addition to the opportunity to meet and mingle with the industry’s premier professionals, the four day event will highlight dozens of presentations from colored gemstone experts as we explore topics ranging from new mining sources and technology, highlights of the colored gemstone community’s efforts to improve and expand supply chain sustainability and integrity, emerging design concepts and manufacturing technology, and business leaders with strategies to help you drive success in your colored gemstone sales.
The Congress will be held at the beautiful Royal Tulip Brasilia Alvorada in Brasilia, Brazil, a UNESCO cultural heritage since 1987, and situated in the heart of the most prolific source of gemstones in the world.
This is truly a must attend event for any colored gemstone professional. Expand your status as a colored gemstone expert and nurture your spirit in Brazil’s outstanding culinary offerings. Register today and join us in Brazil as we gather to explore Gems for Generations.
Douglas Hucker
CEO ICA
Rio de Janeiro may be the most famous city in Brazil, but the country’s capital is Brasília, a city built on purpose –to serve as the country’s new capital city. It was founded on April 21, 1960, and nowadays Brasília is estimated to be Brazil’s 4th most populous city.
Brasília was planned and developed by LúcioCosta and Oscar Niemeyer in 1956; the idea was to move the capital from Rio de Janeiro to a more central location. The clean, futuristic look of the city is attributed among others to its landscape architect, Roberto BurleMarx, who envisioned a city the shape of an airplane and representing the epitome of rational planning.
Some of the reasons why the city was awarded this title include being “a singular artistic achievement, a prime creation of the human genius, representing, on an urban scale, the living expression of the principles and ideals advanced by the Modernist Movement and effectively embodied through the urban and architectural planning of Lucio Costa and Oscar Niemeyer.”
ICA President
As a young student Damien developed a passion for gemstones. He collected rocks, fossils and minerals from around Australia and in his spare time learned to cut and polish opal. After completing a Diploma in Business studies he worked in the Insurance and Financial Services sectors where he held senior executive positions with a number of leading international organizations. His passion eventually led him to the opal industry where he is a Director of Cody Opal (Australia), a leading Australian opal exporting company with markets around the globe. He is also Managing Director of The National Opal Collection, a company which operates retail opal stores and museums in Australia. His companies have received Australian and Victorian Government awards for both exporting and tourism. He is co-author of a top-selling book ‘The Opal Story’ which has been written in five different languages. Around 60,000 copies have been distributed around the globe. In 2018 his company produced a limited release of Opal Master sets. Each set containing 216 opal samples from all of the world deposits to assist with identification, classification and grading of opal. Major laboratories and gemological institutes availed themselves of this resource and the release was quickly over- subscribed. Cody Opal Australia received a JNA Honoree award for Industry Innovation of the year for this initiative. Cody Opal is now researching for a comprehensive new publication covering all of the World’s Opal deposits. Damien has held various industry positions including Director of International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA) and ICA Ambassador to Australia. He has served four years as Vice President of the ICA. He is Chairman of ICA’s Compliance and Sustainability committee and founder of ICA’s charity ‘Gems Keep Giving’. He served on the Opal Committee of Jewellers Association of Australia (JAA).
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CEO, International Colored Gemstone Association
A leading figure in the international industry, particularly in the colored stone sector, Mr. Hucker , has served on the board of director of numerous trade organizations including the American Gem Society, the Jewelers Education Foundation, the Jewelers Vigilance Committee, the United States Jewelry Council, the Diamond Council of America Advisory Board, the Jewelry Industry Leadership Forum, the CIBJO Presidents Council and the JCK Advisory Board. After serving twenty four years as CEO of the American Gem Trade Association, Mr. Hucker has now transitioned to CEO of the International Colored Gemstone Association.
Hucker has received numerous industry awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Jewelers 24KT Club of Southern California, as well as the Sallie Morton Award, the Triple Zero Award, and the Robert M. Shipley award, all bestowed by the American Gem Society.
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The International Colored Gemstone Association is the perfect platform…..
Sponsors benefits:
The International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA), a non-profit organization, is the only worldwide body specifically created to benefit the global colored gemstone industry. ICA was founded in 1984 and is now comprised of 500+ gem industry leaders from mine to market, including miners, gem cutters, suppliers, retailers, trade associations, gemological laboratories, academia, museums, and more, from 47 countries who are devoted to advancing and promoting the knowledge and appreciation of colored gemstones.
ICA’s global network works to develop a common language for promotion and consistent business standards necessary to improve international communication and trade of colored gemstones.
Over the years ICA has provided direct access to the source for colored gemstones and related information. There is no other international organization with the same collective access to, and knowledge about, all levels of the colored gemstone industry.
The Brazilian Institute of Gems and Precious Metals is a national, private, non-profit entity, founded in 1977, with the mission of representing, mobilizing, integrating, developing and promoting all segments of the Gem, Jewelry, Costume Jewelry and Watch Production Chain, harmonizing their interests and promoting the transfer of knowledge, trust and appreciation of its products by consumers.
Its work philosophy is guided by ethics and transparency in its activities, in compliance with the laws that guide the practice of its business and relationships.
Featuring a total of 3 swimming pools, kids club, games room, spa, fitness center and even a pub, to name just a few of the conveniences, there is never a dull moment when you stay at the Royal Tulip Brasília Alvorada.
With its architecture signed by Ruy Ohtake, it is located on the shores of Lake Paranoá, next to the Alvorada Palace and less than 10 minutes away from the commercial center of Brasilia and 15 minutes away from the airport.
It is among the best Brasília 5 stars hotels. Featuring a total of 395 5-star luxury rooms, all equipped with amenities such as air conditioning, high-speed Internet access, cable TV and electronic safe, the rooms also feature balconies so you can admire the skyline of Brasilia in a truly luxurious setting.
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