Dive In 2023 attracted record global participation
The Dive In Festival, one of the world's largest diversity, equity, and inclusion events, which took place in September, reached a milestone by welcoming 30,986 participants from a record 84 countries.
Under the theme “Unlocking Innovation: The Power of Inclusion”, the festival's hybrid format spanned over 135 events across 37 countries and six continents. These events featured discussions led by over 500 speakers on crucial topics, including artificial intelligence, indigenous rights, and sustainability.
Dominic Christian, global chairman of Aon Reinsurance Solutions, reflected on this year’s festival saying: “The Dive In Festival achieved significant milestones in DE&I this year. The introduction of the CPD certification for Dive In events, as well as the rollout of Dive In to Reverse Mentoring, the first cross-industry reverse mentoring scheme, truly showcases the impact of the festival on our industry. It’s now been nine years since the sector hosted its first Dive In event and we expect the tenth anniversary next year to be extra special as we celebrate a decade of impact.”
The tenth anniversary of the Dive In Festival, Dive In 2024 will take place from 24-26 September 2024.
The festival was supported by Global Festival Partners from across the industry. These include: AIG, Allied World, Aon, Arch, Aviva, AXA, Axis, BMS, Chubb, CNA, DLA Piper, Everest, Gallagher, Howden, Kennedys, Lloyd’s, Liberty Mutual, Markel, Marsh McLennan, Moody’s RMS, Munich RE, RenaissanceRe, SCOR, Sompo International, Tokio Marine Kiln, Travelers, and WTW.
Notably, for the first time in its nine-year history, Dive In Festival events were Continuing Professional Development (CPD) certified. This led to a significant increase in attendance, with over 64% of the participants being first-time attendees.
Key events across the globe featured topical discussions. In the UK, Naomi Sesay, Head of Creative Diversity at Channel 4, led a panel on the impact of TV, film, and media on diversity. In Brazil, Isabel Azevedo, Executive Director of People & Transformation at Fairfax Seguros, chaired a panel on men's role in promoting gender equality. In Taiwan, a panel addressed workplace sexual harassment, while global events explored new topics for Dive In such as artificial intelligence and domestic abuse.
Detailed event reports and video highlights, offering insights and tips from the speakers, are accessible on the Dive In Festival website. Recordings from events are now also available on the Dive In YouTube page.
Mike Chang, Head of CRB North America, said: “For too long, diversity, equity, and inclusion have been treated as mere checkboxes. Dive In Festival 2023 shattered that notion, it underscored that DE&I is not just a business objective but an urgent necessity for driving progress. The festival provided tangible examples of how DE&I connects with and directly influences innovation that will help be a key enabler to realising our aspirations as an industry.”
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