An online survey has been launched today to gauge the industry’s progress in advancing diversity and inclusion in the workplace, plus the impact of the pandemic on employee wellbeing.

The findings will be revealed at next month’s Dive In Festival, an annual campaign by the industry globally to push for positive changes in areas such as mental health, physical impairments and the gender leadership gap. This year’s festival will take place virtually because of COVID-19.

The survey is backed by Liberty Specialty Markets, specialist underwriting agency Sura, the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (ANZIIF) and law firm Wotton + Kearney.

“Sura is pleased to once again support the Dive In Festival,” MD Angie Zissis said. “This will be the second year we will also sponsor the production of a Diversity and Inclusion survey.

“We see this as an important initiative which adds greatly to the understanding of the industry’s people and their daily challenges.”

ANZIIF GM Industry Engagement Damian Falkingham says the survey will provide quality data for the industry to understand better the radical changes caused by the pandemic disruption.

He urged everyone within the industry, including non-ANZIIF members, to take part in the survey.

Jennifer Whelan, a diversity and inclusion consultant, has been commissioned to manage the survey. She will discuss the survey findings in her keynote address at a Dive In event on September 23 that is sponsored by Liberty Specialty Markets, Sura and Wotton + Kearney.

“With COVID-19 most countries have experienced some degree of lockdown and social isolation requirements, which has vastly impacted the way we work,” Dr Whelan said. “Our research this year will build on the inclusion themes to also explore how COVID-19 has impacted on our experiences of inclusion at work.”

Click here to take part in the survey.