The organisers of Dive In, the insurance industry’s long-running festival for diversity and inclusion, are planning a hybrid format combining both virtual and physical events this year, to be held September 21-23 across the world.

Last year, the online festival attracted its highest ever turnout with more than 30,000 attendees from 35 countries – almost three times that of previous years – taking part in 144 online events.

Global Festival Director and Head of Culture at Lloyd’s Pauline Miller says the virtual nature of last year’s festival allowed for a truly global perspective on diversity and inclusion, covering issues such as mental health, social mobility, neurodiversity, privilege and cultural diversity within the workplace.

"This year we aim to … focus on making real change,” Ms Miller said. “The global success of last year’s festival has provided us with a strong basis to turn good intentions into equitable outcomes.”

The 2021 festival, which marks Dive In’s seventh consecutive year, will concentrate on the theme “active allyship,” calling on attendees to consciously help others be successful.

Head of Inclusion & Diversity at Willis Towers Watson and Dive In Steering Committee member Jen Denby says 70% of people who registered last year had never attended a Dive In event previously.

“We still have so many more people within the industry (and beyond) that we need to reach,” she said. “We hope that Dive In 2021 will provide the insight and action we need across all areas of the globe to make a real impact on diversity and inclusion in insurance.”

Last year, 12 events in Australia and New Zealand in 2020 drew more than 2500 attendees, who between them filled more than 7500 “virtual seats” over three days.