Founder. Kingsley is a qualified gemmologist and jewellery valuer. He sources venerari’s incredible collection of gemstones and leads the venerari team. His passion for opal is obvious, as is his almost anal demand for perfection in the detail of our jewellery designs. He believes that gemstones and jewellery are more interesting to look at than legal contracts!
Genevieve Lilley RAIA
Principal Designer. Genevieve leads the creative direction of venerari. She is also principal of her architectural practice, Genevieve Lilley Architects. She delights in having no formal background or training in the design or manufacture of jewellery, believing that this brings a new approach to the design of our jewellery.
Cara Reihberg FGAA
Designer & Gemmologist. Cara joined venerari in 2005 after graduating from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Visual Arts in jewellery and object design. After meeting Kingsley and Genevieve, she realised that she had discovered people with a shared love of modern design and a tendency towards quirkier pieces of jewellery outside the mainstream. She qualified as a gemmologist in 2006 after completing her studies at the Gemmological Association of Australia and has since completed further courses in diamond grading, jewellery design and sketching.
Claudia Schnell FGAA DipDT
Designer & Gemmologist. Claudia moved to Australia from her native Germany in 2002 and joined venerari in 2006 after meeting Kingsley at gemmology school. She qualified as a gemmologist in 2005 after completing her studies at the Gemmological Association of Australia and then completed her Diploma in Diamond Technology in 2006. She is currently training as a goldsmith and jeweller at Enmore TAFE. She regularly tutors at the Gemmological Association of Australia.
Monika Droste
Master Gold & Silversmith. Monika graduated with a Masters of Gold and Silversmithing at the HBZ in Muenster, Germany in 2002. She worked in Cologne, Germany before moving to Australia and joining venerari in 2007 after meeting Kingsley in the store when she first arrived in Australia. Her love of opal brought her to Australia and then to venerari. Her 16 years experience designing and manufacturing jewellery means that she can bring to life any quirky or traditional design that you will love and cherish forever.
Helen Mok
Designer. Helen was born in Hong Kong and moved to Australia when she was 12 years old. She joined venerari in 2009 and is a graduate of the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Visual Arts (Hons) in jewellery and object design. She is currently studying at the Gemmological Association of Australia to become a gemmologist. Helen is fluent in mandarin and cantonese. She is passionate about contemporary jewellery design and found venerari to be the place where she can further develop her creativity.
