She recently led the team that created Moyo Gems, a first-of-its kind responsible mine-to-market sourcing program, which works with the female artisanal gemstone miners of Tanzania. Moyo Gems works hand in hand with miners to improve their mining and safety, offers complete traceability via blockchain from verified legal sources, and maximizes the value in country. More at www.moyogems.com.
In 2021, she was awarded the IAC Annual Award for Leadership in Responsible Practice in Jewelry.
Cristina serves on the following jewelry-related advisory committees and boards:
- Gemstones & Sustainable Development Knowledge Hub
- Ethical Metalsmiths
- Jewelry Industry Summit
- CRAFT Code for ASM
- UNEP Global Mercury Partnership (ASM Gold Expert)
- Fairtrade Gold Technical Advisory Group
- Conservation X Labs
She is regularly consulted as an ASM expert on gold, gemstones, and conflict minerals by such organizations as USAID, U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Labor, the World Bank, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, UN Women, technology companies, and journalists for the Economist, Forbes, Reuters, The UK Guardian, Wired Magazine, and The Washington Post, among others. She also lectures at Columbia University’s massive open online course (MOOC) focused on extractives.
With more than 15 years of international development-sector experience, she has done field work in the following countries: Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mongolia, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Venezuela, Zimbabwe, and beyond.
Ms. Villegas is a graduate of the University of California at San Diego and the London School of Economics.
