About 75% of insurance industry workers believe their company executives are committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace, according to a Macquarie Bank survey.

Around 74% believe comments focusing on personal characteristics are not tolerated within companies, while 77% feel equipped to manage diversity and inclusion and 80% are satisfied with their level of flexibility at work.

More than 70% believe their point of view is welcomed and 62% say a diverse workplace has a positive impact on performance.

The results of the survey, the second by the bank, were released last week to mark the start of this year’s Lloyd’s Dive In festival to promote diversity and inclusion in the industry.

More than 70% of the 2031 respondents to this year’s survey come from broker firms, Macquarie says.

About 88% identify as heterosexual, 4% are attracted to the same sex, 2% are bisexual and 6% prefer not to say.

Around 88% are completely “out” about their sexuality at work and 64% identify as LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex).

Some 59% of the survey respondents are born in Australia, 10% in the UK and 14% are from New Zealand.

Around 49% have caring responsibilities and 6% have a psychological condition such as depression or bipolar disorder.

An inaugural CEO roundtable hosted by Willis Towers Watson as part of the Dive In festival saw leading industry players commit to greater diversity.

 “The theme for the event was managing for diversity at the leadership level,” Willis Towers Watson Head of Australasia Andrew Boal told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

“We’re trying to have a conversation with the insurance industry about what challenges we have all been facing in giving diversity at the leadership level and what actually we can take forward going into the future to make that change.

“And we are very encouraged that we had such a fine turnout of CEOs across the industry… to discuss the topics and the discussion was very engaging.”

Roundtable attendees included Lloyd’s Australia General Representative Chris MacKinnon, Insurance Council of Australia CEO Rob Whelan, Steadfast COO Samantha Hollman, Zurich CEO Tim Plant, QBE COO Renee Roberts and JLT CEO Nick Harris.

Gallagher CEO Sarah Lyons, Marsh CEO Scott Leney, Berkshire Hathaway Australasia Regional President Mark Lingafelter and Chubb Australia and New Zealand Head of Property and Casualty Peter Kelaher also attended the discussion last week.