The world’s largest diversity and inclusion festival, Dive In, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this week, running from September 24 to 26 with more than 130 virtual and hybrid events to be held globally.
Since it launched in London in 2015 with just 18 events, Dive In has expanded to include over 130 sessions across 53 cities, attracting more than 128,000 participants over the years. The festival now stands as a global platform dedicated to fostering inclusive workplace environments.
The 2024 program spans a wide array of topics, such as fertility in the workplace, racial inclusion, artificial intelligence, mental health, neurodiversity, invisible disabilities, and social mobility. Under the theme “A Sustainable Future: The Next 10 Years,” the festival will focus on how inclusive cultures can fuel innovation and address future global challenges.
Speakers include comedian Alex Brooker, British sports figure Vicky Gosling OBE, Spanish Paralympic triathlon champion Susana Rodríguez, and the most decorated black athlete in Olympic Winter Games history, Elana Meyers Taylor.
Emphasising the increasing importance of D&I in today’s climate, Aon’s global chairman of reinsurance solutions Dominic Christian stated: “As companies globally face pressures to cut D&I strategies, Dive In’s role is more critical than ever.
“The festival highlights the importance of inclusive cultures and showcases the power of global collaboration in addressing some of the most pressing challenges in our industry. I urge senior leaders to attend this festival, engage with the discussions, and champion diversity and inclusion within their organisations.”
Christian cited the “pivotal opportunity” to drive meaningful change while leading by example.
Meanwhile, ensuring easy access for a worldwide audience, registration will remain open until the day of each festival event. Also, for the second year in a row, Dive In will feature its reverse mentoring initiative, which pairs junior employees with senior leaders to foster mutual learning. Registration for this program remains open even after the festival concludes.
Christina Colby, chief customer officer at Guidewire, the first insurtech sponsor of Dive In, highlighted the festival’s commitment to accessibility, noting: “In an era where access to high-quality diversity and inclusion training can often come at a significant cost, Dive In stands out by making these crucial discussions and resources accessible to everyone, regardless of their role, seniority, or geography.”
Dive In 2024 is supported by global festival partners Africa Specialty Risks, AIG, Aon, Arch Capital Group, Aviva, AXA, AXIS Capital, BMS, Chubb, Clyde & Co, CNA, Everest, Fidelis Insurance Group, Gallagher, Guidewire, Howden, Kennedys, KPMG, Liberty Mutual Insurance, Lloyd’s, Lockton, Markel, Marsh McLennan, Munich RE, MS Amlin, RenaissanceRe, RGA, Scor, Sompo, Swiss Re, Tokio Marine Kiln, and WTW.
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