MEET OUR FACULTY

GIA instructors are passionate educators who bring years of industry experience to the classroom. All are leaders in their fields, and all are dedicated to helping you gain knowledge, acquire skills and launch your career.

gemology

Bingham’s passion for gemmology began as a child, while watching her grandfather making jewellery as a hobby. Following a career change, she earned her Graduate Gemologist diploma in Carlsbad, returning to London to set up her own business supplying gemstones and bespoke jewellery for private retail customers. She taught GIA’s lab classes for many years, and now returns to GIA’s London campus as a full time gemmology instructor.

Bingham Henderson

Bingham’s passion for gemmology began as a child, while watching her grandfather making jewellery as a hobby. Following a career change, she earned her Graduate Gemologist® diploma in Carlsbad, returning to London to set up her own business supplying gemstones and bespoke jewellery for private retail customers. She taught GIA’s lab classes for many years, and now returns to GIA’s London campus as a full time gemmology instructor.

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Francesca Lawley

Francesca joined GIA as an instructor at the start of 2013. She started towards her career in gemology by first working as an exploration geologist in Australia. After three years she came back to London to become a GIA Graduate Gemologist® and then went on to work for a high end diamond jewelers before joining the GIA London team.

Miriam Moscicki

Miriam Moscicki

Miriam attended her first diamond grading course at the age of 16 at the Israeli diamond bourse, after which she attended GIA in London to earn her Graduate Gemologist® diploma. Before joining GIA in 2015, Miriam worked for 5 years in a diamond lab in the Israeli diamonds exchange bourse, after which she traveled to Canada to work as the head gemologist in the diamond bourse.

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Ana Lucia Tres

After receiving her bachelor’s degree in geology, Ana earned a Graduate Gemologist® diploma from GIA. She then worked as a diamond specialist and in quality assurance at a prestigious high-end jewellery company. Ana subsequently took a position as a gemmologist at a gem lab in London’s Hatton Garden (the city’s jewellery district). She joined GIA in London as an instructor in 2016.

Shaheen comes with a background in Commerce and Human Resources and forayed into gemmology ten years ago by completing her Graduate Diamonds course in Mumbai. A few years later, she received her Graduate Gemologist diploma from GIA. Before joining GIA, Shaheen worked for a gem laboratory based in London’s Hatton Garden, setting up laboratories in New York, Dubai and India, where she was also Head of Education and Training for six years.

Shaheen Bandukwalla

Shaheen comes with a background in Commerce and Human Resources and forayed into gemmology ten years ago by completing her Graduate Diamonds course in Mumbai. A few years later, she received her Graduate Gemologist diploma from GIA. Before joining GIA, Shaheen worked for a gem laboratory based in London’s Hatton Garden, setting up laboratories in New York, Dubai and India, where she was also Head of Education and Training for six years.

jewelry arts

Alex began his career in the retail jewellery industry in Southern Africa while also studying for his BA in anthropology. He soon developed skills in silver and goldsmithing, and became a rough and cut gemstone buyer. A change in career path saw him teaching anthropology at the University of South Africa for two years but he reverted back into his previous jewellery role in South Africa for another seven years. Alex completed his Graduate Gemologist Diploma at the South African and London campuses and began his role as a jewellery design and gemmology instructor with GIA’s London Campus in January 2018.

Alexander Lind

Alex began his career in the retail jewellery industry in Southern Africa while also studying for his BA in anthropology. He soon developed skills in silver and goldsmithing, and became a rough and cut gemstone buyer. A change in career path saw him teaching anthropology at the University of South Africa for two years but he reverted back into his previous jewellery role in South Africa for another seven years. Alex completed his Graduate Gemologist® diploma at the South African and London campuses and began his role as a jewellery design and gemmology instructor with GIA’s London Campus in January 2018.

Ciara started her professional career as a qualified architectural CAD technician. After a few years working in this area, Ciara decided to pursue her passion for jewellery and metalwork. She completed an intensive 2-year mixed discipline crafts course in Ireland and then moved to the UK to achieve her BA in silversmithing and jewellery design. Following her studies, she developed her skills in teaching and jewellery making, completing a post graduate course and winning a 3-year position as artist in residence in a well-established Berkshire Arts Centre. After this she moved into the retail jewellery industry spending eight years in the field, five of which involved working as an in-house designer in a high-end jewellery store. She brings her knowledge and industry experience to GIA, inspiring and encouraging her students as they develop their careers in the industry.

Ciara Lennon

Ciara started her professional career as a qualified architectural CAD technician. After a few years working in this area, Ciara decided to pursue her passion for jewellery and metalwork. She completed an intensive 2-year mixed discipline crafts course in Ireland and then moved to the UK to achieve her BA in silversmithing and jewellery design. Following her studies, she developed her skills in teaching and jewellery making, completing a post graduate course and winning a 3-year position as artist in residence in a well-established Berkshire Arts Centre. After this she moved into the retail jewellery industry spending eight years in the field, five of which involved working as an in-house designer in a high-end jewellery store. She brings her knowledge and industry experience to GIA, inspiring and encouraging her students as they develop their careers in the industry.