De Beers Group CEO Bruce Cleaver was awarded the Diamonds Do Good professional advancement award for committing the whole organisation to advancing women and girls.

"Under his leadership, De Beers has partnered with UN Women to achieve parity in the appointment of women and men into senior leadership roles across De Beers by 2020, invest in women micro-entrepreneurs and STEM students in its diamond producing countries, and ensure De Beers' brands are a positive force for supporting gender equality through all its marketing campaigns," the fund said.

Cleaver was previously named as a ‘HeForShe' thematic champion due to his advancement of women.

The Diamonds Do Good responsible government award was won by the government of the Northwest Territories, in Canada, due to its robust mineral development strategy.

The fund said the strategy protected the environment, enhanced indigenous engagement and community capacity building, promoted sustainability and leveraged a local workforce, as well as fostered attractive investment opportunities for the benefit of the local communities.

Mines within the government's remit includes Dominion Diamond's (CN:DDC) Ekati mine, Rio Tinto (LN:RIO) and Dominion's joint venture Diavik mine and De Beers Canada and Mountain Province Diamonds' (CN:MPVD) JV Gahcho Kué mine.

"The recipients of this years' Diamonds Do Good awards reflect the ongoing positive impact being fostered by the diamond industry around the world," said DEF president and Gemological Institute of America senior vice president Anna Martin.

"Sharing these stories with our customers is not only good for business, it is a responsibility for the entire industry."