Dive In marks its fifth year and urges the global insurance industry to create #inclusionimpact
The three-day festival will take place across the globe from 24-26 September 2019 and is set to be bigger than ever, taking place in more than 30 countries
Festival follows 2018’s record success of 9,000 attendees at 100 events in over 50 cities around the world, including Saudi Arabia and Jordan for the first time
Dive In, the Festival for Diversity and Inclusion in Insurance, has been confirmed for its fifth consecutive year. Year-on-year the festival has grown exponentially, since it began in just one city and one country (London, 2015). 2018 staged the highest number of events (100+), attendees (9,000+), and sponsors and partners (30+) showing the overwhelming appetite for practical events that enable the insurance sector to translate awareness of the business case for diversity and inclusion into action.
The Dive In Festival aims to help the insurance industry get fit for the future, highlighting the business case for diverse and inclusive workplaces and providing practical ideas and inspiration on how to bring about positive change. This year’s festival continues to drive attendees to move from awareness into action with a focus on creating measurable impact.
New research among 10,000 registered Dive In attendees last year revealed that 93% of insurance professionals believe managers have got the message that diversity and inclusion are good for business and are taking positive steps forward. The survey also found that more than three-quarters (82%) feel their views on the importance of diversity and inclusion have changed positively since the festival started in 2015.
2018 saw Dive In events hosted across the world which sought to empower insurance professionals to harness the energy of previous years to encourage action across the sector. Events in new cities across the Middle East, Asia, Africa, the Americas and Europe tackled topics such as gender equality and inclusive hiring, taking practical steps towards creating more inclusive workplaces. Attendees in Amman heard from Mayyada Abu-Jaber, the renowned female activist and inspirational leader who discussed her lifetime dedication to female empowerment. In London, a panel of business leaders chaired by Victoria Derbyshire discussed how to close the diversity gap. The festival finished with a standout speech from Sir Lenny Henry on his personal journey of diversity and inclusion, along with a fresh serving of comedy. Global engagement on social media helped the festival reach a further audience of 3 million.
Chair of Inclusion@Lloyd’s and Global Chairman of Aon’s Reinsurance Solutions business, Dominic Christian commented, “The focus on curating a global festival that seeks to encourage insurance professionals to move from awareness of the business case for diversity and inclusion to creating positive action is something to be truly proud of, and while we have seen significant progress, I am delighted to know that this forward momentum will be carried into Dive In 2019.”
The festival has continued to garner support with 2018 seeing the highest number of sponsors from the insurance industry to date. Gold sponsors included: AIG, Aon, AXA XL, Chubb, CNA, CNA Hardy, Guy Carpenter, Jackson, Lloyd’s, M&G, Marsh, Miller, Prudential, Willis Towers Watson, and Zurich, alongside gold festival partners Kennedys and PwC. Silver sponsors included: Allianz, Beazley, BMS, Direct Line Group, Ed, Gallagher, JLT, Markel, MS Amlin, RenaissanceRe, Travelers and THB. Silver festival partners were Oliver James Associates and Resource Solutions. Sponsorship for 2019 is now open.