Jewellery Industry Network: Intrigue as far as the eye can see

Jeweller previously traced connections between a tangled web of businesses that, on the surface, appeared to have little in common, aside from a series of unusual links to the local jewellery trade.

Four months after the investigation’s most recent update, further research has uncovered six more companies associated with Laura Moore and/or Angkham (Andy) Phanthapangna that have since been liquidated or deregistered by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).

A recent report revealed that the number of ‘failed’ entities identified within the complex network had risen from eight to 14. However, further examination indicates that this figure alone does not represent the full scope of this intriguing web of companies and individuals.

Background reading: Companies and job titles vanish in the night

Indeed, the breadth of the network also extended into several industries entirely unrelated to jewellery, with some intriguing connections even reaching into the optometry industry.

Confusing sIGNs!

Jeweller previously reported on the mystery surrounding the three IGNs - Industry Group Network (IGN), IGN Research, and IGN Media.

Moore and Phanthapangna were directors and shareholders of Industry Group Network - formed in September 2020 - the company that was used to acquire Jewellery World magazine.

On 17 March 2026, ASIC took action to deregister Industry Group Network under Section 601AB(1). This came after the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) issued a wind-up order against the company on 23 January 2024.

What was particularly surprising about Industry Group Network was that it came to be connected to Amanda Trotman (née Hunter), the former executive director of the Jewellers Association of Australia (JAA). This will be documented in greater detail below.

As previously reported, in May 2017, Trotman, along with Moore - who was JAA vice president at the time - spearheaded the disastrous attempt to launch the JAA Jewellery Trade Show.

Interestingly, six days after the ATO’s action against Industry Group Network, Moore formed a new company - IGN Media Pty Ltd - on 29 January 2024, using the same registered address: Rose Street, Mile End in Adelaide.

Moore was listed as a director of the company alongside Jye Sims. Sims was a founding director of Achievement Collective, alongside Phanthapangna, which collapsed with $2.2 million in liabilities. Moore's Jewellery Industry Network and Jewellery World previously promoted the services of Achievement Collective.

In addition to ASIC deregistering Industry Group Network, the corporate regulator also took action against a third company using the same moniker: IGN Research.

Like Industry Group Network, IGN Research was also registered in September 2020, with Phanthapangna and Moore listed as directors. Its shareholders were recorded as Alphabet Technologies and Sharp Space, two companies owned by Phanthapangna and Moore.

ASIC moved against IGN Research on 23 March 2026, also deregistering it under Section 601AB(1), just six days after deregistering Industry Group Network Group.

As previously highlighted, there are many oddities associated with this specific company. To begin with, although Phanthapangna was a founding director and shareholder, he resigned from IGN Research on the same day it was registered: 1 September 2020.

This left Moore as the sole director for more than four years before she resigned on 9 December 2024. Her resignation occurred 12 days before the collapse of QED Technology, another company owned by Phanthapangna.

QED Technology was liquidated on 20 December with more than $2 million in liabilities, and according to the liquidator’s report, Moore’s IGN Research had benefited from a $1.3 million loan from QED Technology.

The report also detailed $3.2 million worth of debt between the two companies.

Familiar faces, old friends

In the search for clarity around the three ‘IGNs’, researchers found themselves in an unexpected territory – the optical industry.

Moore’s Industry Group Network and/or IGN Media Pty Ltd has a commercial agreement with the Optical Distributors & Manufacturers Association (ODMA).

ODMA was formed in 2000 and claims to be the peak Australian body representing wholesale suppliers, manufacturers, and importers of optical products such as frames, lenses, and equipment.

According to its website, by becoming a member, companies can align their “brand with a long-standing, respected voice in the industry - enhancing trust and reputation.” [Emphasis added]

"We have sourced a vibrant team to work with us, which is part of an agency known as the Industry Group Network (IGN). All the team members I have met have impressed me with their knowledge, vibrant approach and keenness to work for continual improvement, and I trust that you will all be in good hands".

Amanda Trotman, CEO, ODMA

Around four years after her contentious departure from the JAA, Trotman joined ODMA. She was appointed general manager in 2021 and, on an unknown later date, was elevated to CEO. Her LinkedIn profile incorrectly claims she has been CEO since 2021.

On 7 February 2024, Trotman announced that ODMA had awarded a commercial contract to Moore’s Industry Group Network Pty Ltd (ACN 644 118 294).

This was unusual timing because, only two weeks prior to this announcement, the ATO had issued a wind-up order against Industry Group Network on 23 January 2024.

As mentioned above, on 29 January 2024, Moore registered a new - and similarly named - company: IGN Media Pty (ABN 19 805 002 691) six days after the ATO moved to wind up Industry Group Network.

Trotman announced the appointment of Moore’s company to ODMA members on its website. Of course, such announcements are not unusual, and they often range from straightforward and matter-of-fact news items to positive backing. 

In this case, the announcement included a highly favourable endorsement provided for Moore and Industry Group Network Pty Ltd, written by Trotman.

"We have sourced a vibrant team to work with us, which is part of an agency known as the Industry Group Network (IGN),” it reads.

“All the team members I have met have impressed me with their knowledge, vibrant approach and keenness to work for continual improvement, and I trust that you will all be in good hands."

Moore was granted the right to reply on the ODMA website to promote her activities, which included: "Our company is dedicated to passionately fostering the growth of industry groups and individuals."

Significantly, she signed off as: "Laura Moore Managing Director, Industry Group Network (IGN)". (See image below)

Craig Chick's response

Jeweller contacted ODMA chair Craig Chick with several questions about this unusual sequence of events.

The most immediately obvious issue was whether Trotman had informed the ODMA Board about the potential for either a conflict of interest, or at least the perception of a conflict of interest, given that she had a professional relationship with Moore dating back to at least 2014.

Chick was also asked whether the ODMA Board had conducted an open and competitive procurement process that would consider multiple, unrelated parties, and whether the Board was aware of the several key events documented in the initial investigation into Jewellery Industry Network.

Following the initial contact and questions, Chick responded: "As noted previously, ODMA is taking time to consider the reporting and to understand the relevant context and information."

His email in December added: "While this process is underway, and particularly where matters raised extend to historical periods that pre-date the current board and governance arrangements, it would be premature for ODMA to respond substantively".

"As noted previously, ODMA is taking time to consider the reporting and to understand the relevant context and information."

Craig Chick, ODMA

This was considered to be an entirely reasonable response.

Among the events of interest were Federal Court proceedings in 2022 after allegations of misleading and deceptive conduct by Moore and Phanthapangna, and the ATO’s action to wind up Industry Group Network in early 2024.

It should be noted that in subsequent correspondence to the initial contact, ODMA has repeatedly stated that it “has conducted appropriate due diligence” and that it “has at all times adhered to proper governance standards.”

That said, rather than offering what could have been a reasonable explanation for the matters raised, ODMA handed the matter over to a legal representative, and correspondence from that point onward created confusion and arguably contradicted itself.

Indeed, ODMA’s initial attempt at an explanation seemed to outright contradict what the member-based organisation itself had announced in February 2024.

That is, ODMA's 7 February announcement clearly referred to a commercial agreement with Industry Group Network Pty Ltd; its legal spokesperson stated that “ODMA's relationship with IGN Media Pty Ltd is an arm's length commercial contract”.

Said another way, this response suggested that the commercial agreement was not with Industry Group Network (as was announced on its website) but rather the new IGN Media Pty Ltd, the company registered just six days after the ATO moved to wind up Industry Group Network.

Was the confusion a simple mistake? 

SURPRISE: Amanda Trotman endorsed Industry Group Network (IGN) and Laura Moore replied as managing director of the company.

This seemed unlikely because, as shown below, Trotman provided a glowing endorsement of Moore and Industry Group Network; ODMA published a reply from Moore, which was signed as managing director, ‘Industry Group Network’.

An alternative explanation was that Trotman’s announcement was correct at the time and that, at a later point, one of the parties engaged in this commercial agreement was changed.

Explained in simple terms, while it had initially been an agreement between ODMA and Industry Group Network, it now appeared to be an agreement between ODMA and IGN Media Pty Ltd.

This is one possible explanation, given that the ATO took action to deregister Industry Group Network on 23 January 2024, and Moore only registered IGN Media on 29 January 2024.

The ODMA Board was presented with this information and asked for clarification or, alternatively, to provide a third option; however, it chose not to explain the inconsistency. 

As mentioned above, another factor that remains unclear is whether the ODMA Board was aware that Moore, alongside Phanthapangna, had previously faced Federal Court proceedings over allegations of misleading and deceptive conduct. That matter was eventually settled out of court.

Such legal matters ordinarily would come to light during a due diligence period when awarding and/or entering a new commercial agreement. Further, they could also be addressed during an open and competitive ‘tender’ that would consider - or seek expressions of interest - from multiple, unrelated parties.

Whether Trotman and the ODMA Board conducted a competitive process or sought expressions of interest from other parties at the time Industry Group Network was being considered, or at a later date when IGN Media was seemingly appointed, remains unclear because the ODMA Board has not provided comment or clarification on this matter.

Confusion galore

Much of the confusion around these matters has been created and fuelled by ODMA’s 7 February announcement. Following Trotman's favourable endorsement of Moore and Industry Group Network, Trotman directed members to the company's new website (ignet.com.au).

At the time, the website tab (URL) displayed ‘Industry Group Network’ however, somewhat confusingly, the homepage promoted the business of ‘Innovative Growth Network’ and/or IGN Media. (See image)

CONFUSION: Amanda Trotman directed ODMA members to the Industry Group Network (IGN) website (IGNet.com.au) but is appears to promote IGN Media or Innovate Network Group but the URL tab states: Industry Group Network.

What is more intriguing is the fact that the website was not registered by either company (Industry Group Network or IGN Media), but rather by one of the liquidated companies owned by Phanthapangna.

According to WHOIS, the public directory for domain name registrations, the website that Trotman directed her members to was registered to Apeirogon Pty Ltd.

The registrant contact and the technical contact are listed as Laura Moore. As stated, Apeirogon Pty Ltd was liquidated on 18 September 2025 with $2 million in liabilities.

Chick and the ODMA Board were also asked questions about a person known as 'Anmolpreet Singh'. This is another interesting twist in the story; both Moore and Phanthapangna resigned from Industry Group Network and sold their shareholding to Singh on 9 December - only nine months after they were appointed by Trotman.

Singh’s name would appear again when he acquired EzyFund, another Phanthapangna-owned company. Little is known about Singh, other than that ASIC records show he has recently replaced Phanthapangna as a director and/or shareholder in at least four different companies.

EzyFund is one of the many companies connected to the $14 million collapse. Hugh Martin, the Adelaide-based insolvency expert who handled the liquidation of eight companies, made some interesting observations in his reports.

EzyFund's website is currently inoperable; however, it previously claimed to be “an online platform that matches you to a broker uniquely qualified for your personal needs”.

According to Martin, it was used to make payments that were “circular and designed to create a paper value of the company and related companies”. He added that they "may constitute voidable transactions".

Among the companies involved in these ‘circular transactions’ was the liquidated Apeirogon Pty Ltd ($2.05 million liabilities), which was owned by Phanthapangna. As explained, this company has a direct connection to Industry Group Network and IGN Media.

Another entity in receipt of ‘circular transactions’ from EzyFund was the liquidated Achievement Collective ($2.2 million liabilities). This company is also involved in the $14 million collapse and was originally owned by Phanthapangna and Jye Sims, the same individual who was a director and shareholder of Moore's IGN Media. Chick did not respond to questions about these matters.

ODMA's fumble

At the time of the appointment of Industry Group Network or IGN Media in February 2024, it appeared that the ODMA board consisted of nine officeholders, including Chick as chair, who is also the managing director of Hoya Lens Australia.

In June 2026, as part of the fact-checking process, Jeweller attempted to verify that all directors listed on the ODMA Board webpage were officeholders at the time of the Industry Group Network appointment.

This WHOIS lookup reveals that ignet.com.au - the site ODMA members were directed to under the 'Industry Group Network' and 'IGN Media' banners - was actually registered to Apeirogon Pty Ltd. Highlighted text confirms Laura Moore as both the registrant and technical contact. Notably, Apeirogon, owned by Angkham (Andy) Phanthapangna, was liquidated on 18 September 2025 with over $2 million in liabilities.

This was a particularly important matter to attempt to verify because of the possibility that the ODMA Board composition had changed over the past three years.

Chick did not provide the information about the then-directors, even though it was a simple and straightforward request.

It was worth attempting to verify this information because it became clear that the ODMA website could not be relied upon for accurate accuate information, despite the organisation’s insistence that it “has at all times adhered to proper governance standards.”

The webpage listing the ODMA board members was ‘misleading’ - it was months out of date. This was established after Jeweller asked specific questions about one board member, who, according to their LinkedIn profile, had left the company that, according to the ODMA website, they still represented.

This specific board member had left up to three months prior and, presumably, was no longer qualified to serve on the ODMA board perhaps based on a move from the wholesale channel to retail.

It was thought that either the ODMA officeholder had not informed the association that she had changed jobs, or she had, and ODMA management had not made the appropriate move to deal with her resignation and update its website.

Either way, it was a misstep subsequently confirmed by ODMA's lawyer, who referred to her as a 'former director' and, by extension, confirmed why it was imperative to attempt to establish which officeholders were responsible for approving the appointment of Industry Group Network.

It appeared to be an embarrassing blunder. However, in fairness, after Jeweller’s questions, ODMA management did act quickly to edit the website, removing the director’s name and details.

That said, at the time of publication, the website’s ‘Latest News’ section makes no mention of the correction or the officeholder's departure. In fact, the most recent published news dates back to November 2025, which, somewhat ironically, was a post about the then-new ODMA board.

In fact, the ODMA Board’s refusal to transparently engage with these matters went as far as refusing what would surely be the most basic of requests: a copy of the ODMA Code of Conduct.

Rather than displaying an adherence to its proclaimed values of trust and transparency, the ODMA Board sought legal advice sometime around early June and provided the following statements in response to a variety of questions.

1. ODMA's relationship with IGN Media Pty Ltd is an arm's length commercial contract for the provision of publishing services.
2. ODMA has conducted appropriate due diligence and is satisfied with the engagement.
3. ODMA has at all times adhered to proper governance standards.
4. ODMA rejects any assertion or implication to the contrary.
5. ODMA does not propose to relitigate these matters or to engage in an iterative exchange of correspondence with you or your publication.

Rather than acting transparently by answering straightforward questions, the legal response was described as ODMA’s final substantive communication on this matter. It was said that no further responses would be provided regardless of the volume, frequency, or tone of future correspondence.

The ODMA Board provided the aforementioned list of claims for the first time in early June, and reiterated them again in July. 

Unfortunately, the many questions about the two ‘IGNs’ remain largely unanswered. Moore, like Chick and Trotman, was given several opportunities to provide clarity but has not done so.

At the time of publication, she is being promoted as managing director of IGN Media in the upcoming Women in Optics Seminar, a paid event costing attendees $99.

The website promotes Moore as a speaker and MC of the event and describes her as a “dynamic leader and strategist”, adding that she has expertise in "business development". 

Should the ODMA Board wish to clarify any of the confusion surrounding Industry Group Network and/or IGN Media - including answers to questions previously raised – Jeweller would willingly receive and consider it for publication. 

Editor's Note: This story is intended to be read in conjunction with Part I, which provides an update on the disappearing 'Apeirogons' and the actions of Andy Angkham Phanthapangna and Francis Wong.

As noted in previous entries in this series, Jeweller does not suggest that any of the individuals referenced in this story have acted unlawfully.

The Full Story

	14 Oct 2025  •  Jewellery Industry Network I   Last one standing: JIN's link to collapsed companies
	31 Oct 2025  •  Jewellery Industry Network II Unravelling a web of collapsing companies
	31 Oct 2025  •  Jewellery Industry Network III Insolvency connections everywhere you look
	29 Nov 2025  •  Jewellery Industry Network IV Connecting the dots in a $14 million collapse
	16 Dec 2025  •  Jewellery Industry Network V Surprising twist in JIN connections and collapses
	19 Dec 2025  •  Jewellery Industry Network VI Former JIN directors issue statement
	12 Aug 2025  •  Jewellery Industry Network VII Companies and job titles vanish in the night

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