Catalyst Canada will honour five Canadian corporate leaders for their ongoing leadership in advancing women and minorities in business, the nonprofit organization said Thursday.

Marking the fifth anniversary of its awards, Catalyst Canada announced the 2014 Champions: Dean Johnson, president and CEO, Sodexo Canada; Ellen Moore, president and CEO, Chubb Insurance Company of Canada; Sharon MacLeod, vice president, personal care, North America, Unilever; and Zabeen Hirji, chief human resources officer, Royal Bank of Canada.

Additionally, Howard Wetston, chairman and CEO, Ontario Securities Commission, receives Special Recognition – Board Diversity Champion for his work advancing women to board leadership.

“A long-term advocate of inclusive workplaces, he has been the driving force behind the OSC’s proposed rule amendments regarding the representation of women on boards and in senior management,” Catalyst Canada notes.

Earlier this year the OSC proposed rule amendments that would require TSX-listed issuers (and other non-venture issuers) to provide disclosure of their policies regarding the representation of women on the board, their process to consider women when selecting directors and executive officers, the number of women in board and executive positions, and their targets for for female representation. The comment period for those proposals closed in mid April.

Moore has supported and developed women and minorities at all levels of Chubb Canada, most recently bringing women’s representation in leadership up to 56%.

Hirji has primary responsibility for implementing RBC’s diversity and inclusion strategy. Her accomplishments include the establishment of a Global RBC Diversity Leadership Council, oversight of the first RBC Diversity Blueprint, and creation of the Diversity Dialogues Reciprocal Mentoring Program, an innovative model that positions mentors and mentees as partners in learning about diversity.

The five will be honoured for her commitment to advancing women and diversity and inclusion at The 5th Annual Catalyst Canada Honours dinner on Wednesday, October 8, at The Fairmont Royal York in Toronto.