Lloyd’s global Dive In Festival aims to have a greater impact on the industry’s approach to diversity and inclusion, as it enters its fifth year.

The festival takes place from September 24-26 and will include 17 events across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Auckland. Registrations for the Australia and New Zealand events open next month.

“Dive In has united the insurance industry in striving for greater awareness and more inclusive workplaces, with more than 25 companies supporting the festival across Australia and New Zealand this year,” Lloyd’s General Representative in Australia Chris Mackinnon told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

This year’s event has the theme #inclusionimpact and aims to build on last year’s campaign of putting “awareness into action”.

Mr Mackinnon says the festival will build on significant progress across the sector, with a record number of companies pledging their support and more industry professionals participating.

“We now have 10 insurance companies in Australia that have signed the Inclusive Behaviours in Insurance Pledge – an industry initiative that emerged from a 2018 Dive In event,” he said.

Dive In started in London in 2015 before becoming an international event and debuting in Sydney the following year. It has since grown to include events in more than 30 countries. This year’s London events launch was last Thursday.

The festival highlights the business case for greater diversity and recognises the need to ensure the industry attracts the best talent and keeps pace with change.

Dive In organisers say it also encourages the industry to look beyond traditional definitions of diversity, encompassing gender, age, cultural background, sexuality, social mobility, faith, caring responsibilities, mental health and physical impairments.

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