Simon Gilbert began his career as a rough diamond buyer for De Beers and went on to accumulate over 30 years of corporate experience as a dIamond and Public Affairs professional in sub-Saharan Africa and London with De Beers.
Over the course of his career, Simon has developed extensive knowledge and understanding of building cross-sector partnership projects with business, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and governments initiating, developing and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders within a wide range of projects and initiatives dealing with corporate social responsibility, reputation, sustainable development and responsible/ethical supply chains. In this time, he created, developed and still maintains a wide range of stakeholder relationships in diverse cultural and political situations resulting in an extensive network of contacts.
Simon has been involved in numerous initiatives and projects including the Kimberley Process, managing and supervising the implementation of KP requirements throughout the De Beers Global Group, assisting the government of Sierra Leone and Liberia with their KP requirements, the UK APPG Joint Working Group on the Great lakes Region utilising knowledge and experience of Central Africa to inform debate from a corporate business perspective, the Mwadui Community Diamond Project, UN Global Compact, Diamond Development Initiative, Business Action For Africa, Responsible Jewellery Council and most recently as the Minerals Expert for the United Nation Security Council Group of Experts on Cote d’Ivoire.
He is an accredited independent auditor (Lead) for the International Conference on the Great Lakes (ICGLR) Regional Certification Scheme regarding tantalum, tin and tungsten (3T) and Gold mining, and exporting companies, and has carried out audits in ICGLR countries. He has also served as a diamond industry representative on many Kimberley Process Review Team visits to producer and manufacturing countries.
He is a proficient communicator and presenter - media trained with experience in broadcast and print – trade, national and international publications.
He has a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Bradford, School of Management, (AMBA, AACSB EQUIS). Accredited IRCA (International Register of Certificated Auditors) Lead Auditor (ISO 9001).
