The last few years have been challenging, including the ability to recruit the right individuals to meet your business' needs. This month we bring you two speakers, Heidi Plentinger and Matt Taylor, who are well-versed in areas of recruitment and HR and with guide you in how to get things right the first time. More details to come - stay tuned. 

Heidi Plentinger: Heidi has a passion to give and help others and with over 40 years of experience in jewellery sales and management in Australia and the UK, she now involves herself in helping and supporting small businesses in other ways.

During her career she was aware of the need to be surrounded by the right people and teams for her to advance in her various roles and from this has grown a passion for recruiting. She has a great flair for mentoring her clients to recognise their existing teams and their positions in the business before any recruiting process.

Having a thorough understanding of the jewellery industry, as a qualified Gemmologist, Diamond Technician, and Designer she knows the expectations required in the industry. She offers her services to solve, improve and maximise recruitment needs. Heidi also volunteers her time coaching young adults through the Max Potential Program. Supporting and developing their skills to help them achieve authentic success in their final years of school and into their future.

Matt Taylor:  Matt has over 20 years of general management experience in the not-for-profit, government, and private sectors in the UK and Australia. He has always gravitated toward people-related roles and issues and so, with this experience and purpose of helping people, established his own HR consulting business – Heart HR.

Matt’s purpose is to work with passionate small business owners to identify and build the foundations of their human resource capabilities. Matt also provides his experience and support to several local charities including Path 2 Change, the Newcastle Business Club, Keep Australia Beautiful and the Annual Ride for Sick Kids to support Ronald McDonald House – which fits in well with his passion for cycling!

Register now for this free and informative webinar
All jewellery industry participants welcome

Watch Recording (Member login required)

Join the JAA and National Council of Jewellery Valuers (NCJV) for an informative and insightful webinar about valuations and valuing.

Two valuing experts, Kym Hughes and Derek Gregory from the NCJV, will join us to answer questions covering mark-ups, laboratory-grown diamonds, resale values, trade trends and everything in between.

Kym Hughes:  Currently the President of the National Council of Jewellery Valuers (NCJV) and past Federal President of the Gemmological Association of Australia (GAA) Kym has over 35 years’ jewellery trade experience with extensive qualifications. Kym is also CEO of the registered training organization (RTO) Valued Education Pty Ltd trading as NCJV-EDU which offers government accredited training for the jewellery industry. Owner of Symmetry Jewellery Valuation Specialists running her own business as a jewellery valuer since 1998, Kym offers trade and members of the public solutions to complex valuation and gemmological needs.

Derek Gregory: Derek began his career in the jewellery industry in 1994 as a jewellery apprentice at Class A Jewellers. In 1997 he won the apprentice category in the Jewel of Adelaide awards and in 1998 he was awarded the apprentice of the year. Derek moved to James Thredgold Jewellers, working in retail and manufacturing, continuing his education he undertook the Diploma of Gemmology and in was awarded the top prize in South Australia. Derek is the current President of the National Council of Jewellery Valuers (NCJV) South Australian Division and Vice President of the NCJV National Association, additionally, he has an important role as official curator of fun at NCJV functions, which anyone who knows Derek will understand.