Dive In Festival celebrates 10 years, sets new attendance record

The Dive In Festival, recognised as the world’s largest diversity and inclusion (D&I) event, which also marked its 10th anniversary from September 24 to 26, broke previous attendance records with over 45,000 registrations from 81 countries.

Under the theme “A Sustainable Future: The Next 10 Years,” the hybrid festival included 133 events spanning 46 countries and six continents. More than 450 speakers addressed key issues such as multi-generational workforces, neurodiversity, LGBTQ+ inclusion, disability, leadership, racial inclusion, and gender equity.

For the second consecutive year, the festival’s events received accreditation from the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) for continuing professional development (CPD). Attendees were able to count their participation towards their professional development requirements.

This accreditation benefits members of several global insurance organisations, including the Australia and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (ANZIIF), Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), Indonesia Insurance Institute (AAMAI), Insurance Institute of Kenya (IIK), The Institutes (US), and Trinidad and Tobago Insurance Institute (TTII).

Most of the festival’s sessions remain available for streaming on the Dive In Festival Events Platform until the end of October, after which they will be accessible on Dive In’s YouTube channel. Participants can continue to claim CPD hours by engaging with these sessions throughout the year, aligning with the festival’s aim of promoting ongoing D&I education.

This year’s headline speakers included Olympic athlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson, who shared insights on the role of trust in leadership, and rugby union player Topsy Ojo, who focused on gender equity. Their contributions complemented discussions on multigenerational workforces, which were highlighted in regions including India, Taiwan, Italy, Switzerland, and Brazil.

Neurodiversity was a focus in Australia, the UK, and Poland, while disability inclusion was explored in the UK, Australia, and Italy. Gender equity was a central topic in New Zealand, Greece, Luxembourg, Singapore, and the USA.

The festival also featured a variety of formats, including a live debate in the UK addressing D&I challenges under far-right pressures and open conversations in Australia where participants were encouraged to ask difficult questions of individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Leadership’s influence on advancing D&I was another focal point, with sessions like one in Chicago led by Xavier Ramey, which emphasised the need for equitable leadership.

Yulia Hayward, senior Dive In programme manager, reflected on the festival’s growth, noting the increase in participation and international reach.

“From 18 events in London, we’ve grown to 133 events across 46 countries on six continents and have been joined by an outstanding calibre of speakers that have shed light on the importance of developing inclusive workplace cultures. This year, our goal was to showcase the progress over the last ten years, while identifying specific areas where we still have room to improve,” Hayward said.

She underscored that the festival’s aim this year was to highlight progress made over the past decade while identifying areas where more work remains to be done.

Dan Burrows (pictured above), group CEO of Fidelis Insurance Group, commented on his firm’s role as a new Global Festival Partner for 2024, noting Bermuda’s long-standing involvement in Dive In.

“Dive In does incredible work championing D&I initiatives in the industry all year round, and we are delighted to have been a part of this year’s festival. We look forward to continuing our support of Dive In and being a part of the valuable impact it has in highlighting the importance of creating an equitable environment where all individuals, regardless of their background, can thrive and contribute to the industry’s growth and innovation,” Burrows said.

Dive In 2024 was supported by 32 Global Festival Partners, including major industry players such as AIG, AXA, Aviva, Chubb, Liberty Mutual Insurance, Lloyd’s, Marsh McLennan, Munich RE, and Swiss Re.

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