An international festival designed to promote diversity and inclusion in insurance is going virtual for its 2020 global gathering.

Dive In debuted in London in 2015 as an outgrowth of Inclusion@Lloyd’s, an initiative launched by Lloyd’s of London’s then-CEO Inga Beale. This year’s event will run from Sept. 22 to 24, with more than 90 virtual events taking place in over 30 countries, according to the organizers. Industry “Global Festival Partners” are wide-ranging: AIG, Aon, Aviva, AXA, Chubb, CNA, Lloyd’s, Markel, Marsh & Guy Carpenter, MS Amlin, RenaissanceRe, RMS, Travelers, Tokio Marine Kiln and Willis Towers Watson, among others.

Dive In’s 2020 theme is “Local Voice, Global Impact,” with a focus on the role local voices can play in global change.

Each event in the three-day virtual festival can field a capacity of 600 to 1,500. With the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic and increased pressure to achieve racial equality in mind, the festival is designed to tackle pressing topics in diversity and inclusion. Focus areas will include flexible working, allyship, gender identity, white privilege, social mobility and mental and physical health.

Following the festival theme – attendees were invited to take part in Dive In’s video campaign discussing the impact the pandemic has had on diversity and inclusion globally. These videos aired on Dive In social media channels through July.

Scheduled speakers come from insurance industry and other business sectors, as well as entertainment and politics. They include Boston Mayor Martin Walsh, RMS CEO, Karen White; UK Education Secretary Justine Greenin, Beale, Guardian CEO Deanna Mulligan; inspirational speaker and bestselling author, Kelly McDonald; Ben and Jerry’s CEO, Matthew McCarthy; and Grammy award-winning and Oscar-nominated songwriter Siedah Garrett.

This year, nine countries are celebrating their fifth year of hosting the Dive In festival: Australia, Bermuda, Canada, China, France, Ireland, Singapore, Switzerland and the U.S.

Source: Dive In