Registration has opened for a three-day festival to promote and support greater diversity and inclusiveness in the insurance sector. It will be held in Bermuda later this month.

The Dive In Festival is a global initiative with more than 45 events taking place concurrently in 15 cities around the world, including Hamilton.

In Bermuda, the festival will feature workshops and discussions.

The island’s insurance community is joining Lloyd’s of London and other cities to highlight the business case for diverse and inclusive workplaces “and providing practical ideas and inspiration for how to bring about positive change”.

The Bermuda Dive In Festival has been endorsed by Mike McGavick, CEO of XL Catlin, and Brian Duperreault, chairman of Hamilton Insurance Group. It is led by a committee supported by EY, Hamilton, Marsh, XL Catlin and the Bermuda Human Rights Commission.

The inaugural Dive In Festival for Diversity & Inclusion in Insurance was held in London last year. It was an initiative of Inclusion@Lloyd’s, and this year has been expanded to reach many countries, including the US, China, Australia, Canada, France, Britain and Switzerland.

Paul Jardine, chief experience officer at XL Catlin, which is Dive In’s global platinum sponsor, said: “At XL Catlin, we believe that diversity drives innovation, creativity and profitability in all aspects and types of business.

“The pressure is now on leaders in the insurance industry not only to talk the talk, but walk the walk.

“We have an inspirational D&I champion in Mike McGavick, who at last year’s festival hammered home this message, saying: ‘If it doesn’t come from the top, it goes nowhere’ and he is absolutely right. But it’s also important to remember we all have a responsibility to promote diversity.”

The Bermuda festival runs from September 27 to 29. The content is aimed at helping to ensure the island’s insurance sector is “fit for the future by embracing a more inclusive workplace culture”.

Participants will be invited to consider how unconscious bias, mental health, neurodiversity, gender, multi-generational workforces and sexual orientation impact recruiting, hiring and culture-building decisions.

Michael Dunkley, the Premier, has given his backing to the festival and its goals. He said: “I am pleased to support this wonderful event, which emphasises the importance of diversity and inclusion in the international business environment.

“The festival’s principles of tolerance, respect and acceptance are Bermuda’s principles.

“This Government recognises the importance of the financial services sector and its related industries to Bermuda and its economy. But we also must encourage more individuals to get involved in a sector that is a critical engine driver of our economy — individuals who can bring a diverse perspective to the industry.

“By supporting the best practices being advocated by the Dive In Festival, I am hopeful that we will attract some of the best and brightest people into this vibrant area of our workforce.”

Kathleen Reardon, executive lead for Bermuda Dive In and CEO of Hamilton Re, said the event and its organisers were pleased to receive endorsements from the Premier and other dignitaries.

She added: “With registration now open, we look forward to three productive days of engaging activity and thoughtful discussions that will promote awareness of the value of inclusion and diversity.”

The event has also been endorsed by George Fergusson, the former Governor, Mary Ellen Noonan Koenig, the US Consul General, and Ross Webber, CEO of the Bermuda Business Development Agency.

A series of sessions will be hosted by Aon, EY, Hamilton Re, Marsh and XL Catlin.

The sessions will include: “Un-biasing our unconscious bias,” a facilitated discovery session with Tiffany Paynter, Art of Hosting facilitator; “What executives need to know about women and gender strategies,” led by gender and generations strategist Christie Hunter-Arscott; and “Hidden disabilities: neur-diversity and working with ADD, ADHD, Asperger’s,” presented by Tracy Powell-Rudy from Asperger Syndrome Training & Employment.

Registration for the festival is now open. All events are open to everyone who works in the insurance industry and are free of charge with prior registration.

A mobile app has been designed for iPhone and Android devices, which contains relevant content as well as making it easy to register for events.

For more information contact the Dive In Bermuda committee at diveinfestival@xlcatlin.com. To download the app visit: www.diveinfestival.com #diveinfest