How we came to be

The International Opal Jewellery Design Awards  Association (IOJDAA) is a non profit organisation founded in 2000 to promote freeform and or undulating opal.

To showcase the stunning and innovative use of opal by jewellery designers around the world, the International Opal Jewellery Design Awards were launched back in 2001. The awards are biannual but they are held as part of the annual Lightning Ridge Opal Festival which has become a highly recognised international gem and jewelery show.

Our Charter

The jewellery design awards especially bring to life IOJDAA’s charter which is to:
• promote opal at a national and international level
• promote methods of opal cutting that conserve opal and add value to the opal industry
• increase market demand for freeform and or undulating opal.
• encourage jewellery designers to use freeform and or undulating opal in individual pieces of jewellery.

IOJDAA organises the annual Lightning Ridge Opal Festival  which includes:
• the biannual International Opal Jewellery Design Awards Gala Dinner
• Opal & Gem Expo Stallholders
• Stallholders Wine & Cheese night
• Opal Queen Ball
• and a series of opal carving and opal photography workshops

www.iojdaa.com.au website

The www.iojdaa.com.au website was created in July, 2007 and will continue to be maintained by IOJDAA to:
• showcase inspirational and unique handcrafted opal jewellery designs
• educate and engage jewellery designers, carvers, cutters and wholesalers around the innovative use of opals.

Community Support

IOJDAA is dedicated to supporting the opal industry and Lightning Ridge local community. In conjunction with the Macquarie Darling Work Placement Inc, IOJDAA has established a vocational opal training program with the local Lightning Ridge High School to:
• provide relevant skills to local youth for opal cutting, carving and marketing
• support the future of the opal industry by addressing potential skills shortages.

IOJDAA Committee Members

President: Lyn Carney
Vice President: Ian Woodcock
Treasurer: Karen Burns
Secretary: Judy Greenfield
Committee: Chris Egan, Joan Gebetsberger, Nancy Ghobrial

For further information please contact us.