The contributions of several individuals and firms were honoured by Women in Capital Markets (WCM) at a ceremony Tuesday evening in Toronto.

WCM’s Transformational Leadership Awards recognize and celebrate the leadership and contributions of individuals and firms in the Canadian capital markets working towards gender equality in the industry.

This year, WCM recognized 12 award recipients across four different categories:

The WCM Award for Transformational Leadership recognizes senior executives, male and female, who have made a lasting contribution to gender diversity and inclusion at their firm. This year’s recipients are:

  • Pat Cronin, CEO and group head, BMO Capital Markets; and
    Tamara Finch, managing director and head of portfolio management team, private capital, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan.

The WCM Rising Star Award honours high-performing female professionals whose entrepreneurial spirit, leadership and social responsibility have made a unique contribution to the capital markets industry. This year’s recipients are:

  • Carla Deeks, director, corporate banking – global power, infrastructure and mining, Scotiabank Global Banking and Markets;
    Mélanie Dussarrat, director, FX e-trading, e-solutions group, CIBC Capital Markets;
    Jennifer Diana Lee, principal, strategy and risk, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan;
    Aliyah Mohamed, director, investment banking, TD Securities;
    Jackie Nixon, director, equity capital markets, RBC Capital Markets; and
    Maria Tihotchi, director, global structured products, trading products, BMO Capital Markets.

The WCM Award for Excellence in Innovation recognizes those who have taken bold steps to improve diversity and inclusion through an innovative approach. This year’s recipients are:

  • RBC Vision Women’s Leadership MSCI Canada Index ETF (RLDR), Canada’s first ETF that focuses on driving board diversity in Canada; and
  • Scotiabank’s global banking and markets diversity and inclusion (D&I) office. Led by Wendy Smith, managing director, the D&I Office has made a measurable impact, advancing diversity and inclusion in the workplace for the benefit of all employees.

The WCM Outstanding Volunteer Award recognizes two volunteers who have surpassed all expectations and demonstrated impressive leadership, initiative and a strong work ethic as they champion the WCM mission of greater gender diversity. This year’s recipients are:

  • Leanne Herbst, director, trading business management, TD Securities; and
    Farialle Pacha, associate investment advisor, The Kaufman Wealth Group, Richardson GMP.