ETF.com, a financial data company focused on tracking exchange-traded funds, has given out the first of what will be annual awards recognizing individuals, firms and funds in this fund universe.

WisdomTree’s Japan Hedged Equity Fund, DXJ, has won "ETF of the Year." The $11 billion currency-hedged equity ETF insulated investors from the yen’s slide against the dollar last year, said ETF.com.

Kathleen Moriarty, a securities attorney for New York-based Katten Muchin Rosenman, won the Lifetime Achievement Award. Nicknamed the “SPDR Woman” for her work on the world’s first ETF, SPY, the award reflects Moriarty’s 25 years of experience in the ETF industry, which includes writing the prospectus to the now-$160 billion SPDR S&P 500 ETF.

In addition, the db X-trackers Harvest CSI 300 China A-Shares Fund was honored as the Most Groundbreaking New ETF and as the Best New International/Global Equity ETF.

ETF.com drew on the insights and opinions of leaders throughout the ETF industry to determine the winners.

The complete list of winners and their respective categories include:

Lifetime Achievement -- Kathleen Moriarty

ETF of the Year -- WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund (DXJ)

Best New ETF -- SPDR Blackstone/GSO Senior Loan ETF (SRLN)

Most Groundbreaking New ETF -- The db X-trackers Harvest CSI 300 China A-Shares Fund (ASHR)

Best New U.S. Equity ETF -- The iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL)

Best New International/Global Equity ETF -- The db X-trackers Harvest CSI 300 China A-Shares Fund (ASHR)

Best New Fixed-Income ETF -- SPDR Blackstone/GSO Senior Loan ETF (SRLN)

Best New Commodity ETF -- First Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund (FTGC)

Best New Currency ETF -- WisdomTree Bloomberg U.S. Dollar Bullish Fund (USDU)

Best New Alternatives ETF -- ALPS U.S. Equity High Volatility Put Write Index Fund (HVPW)

Best New Multi-Asset ETF -- ETRACS Diversified High Income ETN (DVHI)

ETF Issuer of the Year -- The Vanguard Group

Most Innovative ETF Issuer of the Year -- WisdomTree Investments

New ETF Issuer of the Year – KraneShares

Index Provider of the Year -- MSCI

Index of the Year -- MSCI World with Emerging Markets (EM) Exposure Index

ETF Market Maker of the Year -- WallachBeth

Best Online Brokerage -- TIE: Charles Schwab and Fidelity

Best ETF Research Team -- TIE: Credit Suisse and Morgan Stanley

Best ETF Issuer Website -- iShares by BlackRock

Best Index Provider Website -- S&P Dow Jones Indices

Best ETF Issuer Capital Markets Desk -- iShares by BlackRock

ETF Strategist of the Year -- Wealthfront Investment Management