Dive In Aims to Unlock Innovation in 2023 Festival 

Mary Nnah  

Dive In, the world-renowned festival dedicated to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the insurance industry has confirmed the date for the 2023 festival for 26-28 September and the festival will focus on the theme of “Unlocking Innovation: The Power Of Inclusion”.

While calling on the industry to create inclusive cultures that value diverse perspectives, the organisers said that after last year’s record-breaking turnout of 34,000 global attendees, Dive In will continue to operate in a hybrid format.For the first time, the festival will also offer a reverse mentoring programme to promote cross-level diversity, equity, and inclusion engagement following the close of the three-day festival. 

In Nigeria, this event is themed “Driving Innovation in Insurance”, inspiring individuals across the commercial and operational sectors of the insurance industry to catalyze change, fostering greater inclusivity and innovation. 

This marks the fifth year of Dive In’s dedicated efforts in promoting diversity and inclusion within the Nigerian insurance sector, promising an engaging and transformative experience for all participants. 

Event registration opened on September 5th, through the Dive In festival website.Following the tremendous success of last year’s festival, Dive In 2023 introduced a groundbreaking initiative, “Dive In to Reverse Mentoring”. 

This novel programme aims to bridge connections between leaders from diverse segments of the Lloyd’s market and individuals at all organisational levels. It fosters ongoing sharing of experiences, perspectives, and learning well beyond the three-day festival. 

Chief Strategy Officer at AON Reinsurance Solutions, Mary Alade, emphasized that “The Dive In Festival has made a noticeable impact on the Nigerian insurance sector. Local leaders are not just advocating for change but embodying it. By engaging insurance leaders in critical discussions on cultural diversity and inclusion, we’ve seen tangible improvements year after year. Dive In’s dedication, from research to advocacy campaigns, is evident, and the response from corporate leaders indicates that they are listening.”

She continued, “Given the unprecedented changes in the global economy, the insurance industry must adapt swiftly to remain relevant. This is the opportune moment for employers to harness diverse perspectives, drive innovation, provide comprehensive coverage, ensure equitable access to insurance, and stimulate sector growth. Dive In returns to Nigeria not only to celebrate five years of impact but also to explore the pivotal role of diverse perspectives in propelling innovation within the insurance industry.”

Dive In has experienced remarkable growth in terms of participation and global reach since its inception in 2015. In 2022, the festival achieved its highest attendance, with 34,000 attendees from 40 countries engaging in 150 events. 

This year, the festival will once again combine virtual and physical events, transcending geographical barriers and enabling a robust global dialogue centred on diversity, equity, inclusion, and innovation.

Last year’s Dive In Festival featured over 500 speakers who explored a wide array of topics, ranging from mental well-being to disabilities. Noteworthy events included a forum in Australia discussing neurodiversity in the workplace, an event in Ecuador focusing on gender equality within the insurance industry, and sessions in South Africa emphasizing the culture of courage. 
The festival also addressed the issue of ageism in multi-generational workplaces in Indonesia and showcased discussions on women leaders in action and gender parity in leadership in both Mexico and the UK. 

Comprehensive event reports and valuable insights from speakers are available on the Dive In Festival website, and the festival’s YouTube channel offers full event recordings for viewing.Head of Culture at Lloyd’ Mark Lomas,  said: “We are proud to witness the continuous progress of inclusive cultures in our industry. Last year, over 40% of registered individuals acknowledged the insurance industry’s increased diversity and inclusivity since the inception of Dive In in 2015. 

This year, we spotlight the impactful policies and initiatives resulting from the Dive In Festival, fostering continuous improvement and driving innovation through our reverse mentoring initiative.”

Head of Strategy & Innovation at Lloyd’s, Tom Allebone-Webb, adds: “We believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion are not just business objectives but urgent necessities. By actively involving the commercial side of businesses, we can fuel the much-needed innovation required in our industry. Everyone across the insurance industry will benefit from engaging with the festival to motivate them to take the necessary actions to make an inclusive and more innovative future a reality.”Dive In provides the insurance industry with the platform to take decisive actions to enhance DE&I within the workplace.

The festival covers an array of vital topics, including non-visible disabilities, mental health, religious equality, cultural inclusivity, ageism, and social mobility within the workplace.
The festival continues to enjoy support from its Global Festival Partners, including AIG, Allied World, Aon, Arch, Aviva, AXA, BMS, Chubb, CNA, DLA Piper, Everest, Gallagher, Howden, Kennedys, Lloyd’s, Liberty Mutual, Markel, Marsh McLennan, Moody’s, Munich RE, RenaissanceRe, RMS, SCOR, SOMPO, Tokio Marine Kiln, Travelers, and Willis Towers Watson.