Curated by Canadian Jeweller Magazine in Celebration of International Women’s Day
For decades, women have been at the centre of Canada’s jewellery industry — not only as designers and retailers, but as executives, wholesalers, association leaders, finance strategists, and brand architects.
This year, in recognition of International Women’s Day, Canadian Jeweller Magazine curated this list to spotlight the women whose leadership continues to redefine creativity, management, and commercial performance across the country.
Celebrating women in jewellery is not symbolic. It is strategic.
Women are leading:
- National retail chains
- Global Canadian-born brands
- Diamond and gold wholesale programs
- Trade associations and governance
- Sustainable sourcing movements
- E-commerce innovation and omnichannel retail
By recognizing their contributions, Canadian Jeweller Magazine reinforces its role as the publication that documents, supports, and elevates the leaders shaping Canada’s jewellery economy.
Below are 25 women whose influence is measurable — in revenue, retail growth, design language, operational discipline, and cultural impact.
1) Noura Sakkijha — Mejuri
Built a global fine jewellery brand from Toronto by redefining everyday luxury, scaling digital-first retail, and proving Canadian-born brands can dominate internationally.
2) Rachel Mielke — Hillberg & Berk
Scaled a prairie startup into a nationally recognized brand, combining strong product identity with community-driven leadership and purposeful brand storytelling.
3) Christina Yazejian — Dioro Jewellery
Leads Dioro with retailer-focused strategy, transforming wholesale programs into dependable inventory solutions that help Canadian jewellers navigate gold volatility and margin pressure.
4) Chau Lui — Paris Jewellers
Co-built one of Western Canada’s most successful multi-store retailers through inclusive branding, modern merchandising, and strong community partnerships.
5) Trang Wong — Paris Jewellers
Drives retail expansion, merchandising, and customer experience innovation, helping position Paris Jewellers as a national gifting destination.
6) Julie Yoakum — Peoples Jewellers
Leads one of Canada’s largest jewellery chains, shaping pricing, promotions, and merchandising strategy that influences national consumer buying patterns.
7) Angela Betteridge — Canadian Jewellers Association
Strengthened professional standards and industry education, reinforcing trust, compliance, and unified advocacy for Canadian jewellers nationwide.
8) Mary Milan — PAJ Canada
A distribution leader translating international brands into retail-ready Canadian programs, driving sell-through and long-term retailer partnerships.
9) Anita Agrawal — Best Bargains Jewellery
Built a respected wholesale business focused on commercial collections, dependable supply, and retailer profitability across Canada.
10) Anita Bhandari — Aarkish Diamonds
Diamond specialist and advisor known for expertise-driven selling, award-winning design insight, and trusted relationships in Toronto’s diamond district.
11) Rachel Berdugo — Oshawa Jewellery
Modernized a long-standing retail operation through education-driven selling, service excellence, and community-rooted brand trust.
12) Jenny Bird — JENNY BIRD
Proved Canadian fashion jewellery can scale globally through strong product identity, disciplined merchandising, and wide retail distribution.
13) Melanie Auld — Melanie Auld Jewelry
Built a nationally stocked accessories brand through trend intelligence, strong retail partnerships, and product-led consistency.
14) Corrine Anestopoulos — BIKO
Expanded a design-driven Canadian label into international markets while preserving strong creative identity and brand integrity.
15) Anne Sportun — Anne Sportun Fine Jewellery
A pillar of Canadian fine jewellery, known for craftsmanship, understated elegance, and decades of loyal clientele.
16) Anne-Marie Chagnon — Anne-Marie Chagnon
Scaled bold Montréal design into broad distribution, proving artistic jewellery can achieve commercial longevity.
17) Julie Schwartz — Delmar International
Built a resilient Canadian jewellery supplier through operational discipline, e-commerce foresight, and long-term trade relationships.
18) Katia Fontana — Birks Group
Provided financial leadership during the transformation at one of Canada’s most historic luxury jewellery houses.
19) Caroline Néron — Caroline Néron
Leveraged media presence and product focus to build a nationally recognized jewellery brand rooted in personal storytelling.
20) Talia Massaroni — Olaeda
Positions jewellery as modern heirloom storytelling, using digital branding to drive emotional engagement and loyalty.
21) Erica Bianchini — Ecksand
Champions ethical sourcing and Canadian craftsmanship while scaling boutique fine jewellery retail in Montréal and Toronto.
22) Danielle Wilmore — Pyrrha
Co-founded a Vancouver-based global talisman brand built on symbolism, sustainability, and disciplined creative direction.
23) Sofia Ajram — Sofia Zakia
Creates symbolic fine jewellery that blends science and art, earning global editorial recognition and premium placement.
24) Lisa Gozlan — Lisa Gozlan Jewellery
Scaled a playful, accessible fine jewellery brand into rapid retail growth backed by strong social demand.
25) Elaine Kim Smith — Lover’s Tempo
Grew from artisan markets to broad wholesale distribution through approachable design and disciplined operational leadership.
