International Women's Day - The Inspiring Women Behind RJC
For the team at Toowoomba jeweller, Ryley Jewellery Creations, women outnumber the men four to three. In celebration of International Women’s Day, here’s an introduction to the amazing women behind RJC.
Christel Ryley – Managing Director
After operating part-time in the background until 2020, Christel came into the company full time taking on the busy role of Managing Director. Christel is the business builder. With a passion for Leadership, Business Development and Philanthropy, she devotes her time to overseeing our industry and business compliance, strategic framework and the execution of our key performance indicators. As a woman in a growing business, she’s not too proud to admit that every day is an opportunity to learn and grow!
Christel is an active member of the Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce and is passionate about making retailers heard in an ever changing economy and global environment. She also sits on the LifeFlight Ball committee and is actively involved with local school’s Parents and Friend’s Committees.
Christel and Ewen Ryley at the opening night of the Ryley Jewellery Creations showroom and manufacturing studio in Kwong Sang Walk, Toowoomba.
Not to be messed with, our fearless leader has a red sash in Shaolin Kempo Kung Fu and has two Australian All Styles Championships to her name. However, after hanging up her gloves she found a love for yoga.
If managing and developing a small business didn’t keep her busy enough, she does this all while studying a Bachelor of Arts (Public Relations and Leadership), and being a mother to two mini Ryley’s.
Favourite quote from a woman Christel admires?
“You either walk inside your story and own it, or you stand outside your story and hustle for your worthiness.””
Lara Quinton – Studio Manager
Lara joined Ryley Jewellery Creations in October 2021 as part of our expansion to our new showroom and manufacturing studio in Kwong Sang Walk. She came across RJC in search of a jeweller to custom design a ring for herself. Only six months later, she successfully interviewed for one of our Retail Associate positions and blew us away with eye for detail, her exceptional artistic flair and her audacity as a leader, all at ripe age of just 21. Not to be underestimated, all of these qualities landed her in the position of Studio Manager in February 2022.
Lara has recently taken an interest in the Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce Future Leaders program, where she has participated in the Power Tynan professional development series and attended some of Chamber’s networking events.
Lara has a passion for all things artistic including fashion, photography and drawing (with a certain flare for photographing and sketching jewellery and gemstones).
Favourite quote from a woman Lara admires?
“Nothing is absolute, everything changes, everything moves, everything revolves, everything flies and goes away.”
Janessa Lawson – Lead Jeweller
What can we say about Janessa!? Janessa has been a jeweller with us for almost 2 years now and her growth and commitment to her professional and personal development is unmatched. Janessa is the backbone to our Creative Director, Ewen, offering unlimited support, and bringing forward a wealth of ideas and knowledge to our apprentice. (On the down-low, she has recently designed this year’s major prize for the Toowoomba LifeFlight ball, a beautiful art deco inspired dress ring! Watch this space!)
Ewen Ryley and Janessa Lawson at the 2022 Jewellery Industry Fair.
Passionate about the industry, Janessa helps out at the now annual Jewellery Industry Fair, most recently held in Melbourne. Back at RJC, Janessa truly breaths our vision statement of “your vision; our artistry”, designing and creating some of our most impressive jewellery pieces exclusive to our customers desires, from stunning diamond engagement rings, wedding bands and eternity rings, to beautiful free-form pendants. But her gemstone of choice is Australian Sapphires.
Janessa is extremely passionate about her health and well being! As an active member of All Stars Gymnastics, her love for the sport is a mere reflection of this passion. She is also extremely passionate about all things space, having studied a Diploma of Astronomy and one day hopes to travel to Mars!
Favourite quote from a woman Janessa admires?
“Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood.”
Tiona Pemberton – Retail Associate
Tiona was one of our earliest team members with Ryley JC and has been with us for almost 4 years. She stepped into a part-time role at the start of this year to spend more time on her own business, Mallow and Thyme.
Tiona Pemberton with some of her range from Mallow & Thyme.
She has an entrepreneurial spirit that all women can admire. Her passion and drive for all things crystal are what spurs her creativity. Tiona hand selects her crystals to design and handcraft each crystal necklace with the purest intentions.
Her love for crystals aside, her true love is her German Spitz affectionally named ‘Bean’. Tiona’s spirit and passion for loving life is extraordinary.
Favourite quote from a woman Tiona admires?
“Imagination is not only the uniquely human capacity to envision that which is not, and therefore the fount of all invention and innovation. In its arguably most transformative and revelatory capacity, it is the power too that enables us to empathise with humans whose experiences we have never shared.”