The Association of Bermuda International Companies is promoting diversity, equity and inclusion within its membership.

Abic’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee, formed in 2017, has worked at HR and C-suite levels to promote DEI and encourage positive change.

The association has assisted DEI focused non-profits with fiduciary services.

A series of education sessions and virtual panel discussions on topics including Bermuda employment data, Black women in IB, advancing racial equity and inclusion in IB, employee wellbeing and mental health, and the inclusion of LGBTQ+ employees have also been hosted by Abic.

The association is working with a professional services firm to develop and administer a workforce DEI survey for member companies to gauge and monitor progress on DEI outcomes, such as representation and mobility of historically under represented groups in international business.

Abic also supports the building of a diverse industry talent pipeline through its educational initiatives, including the Abic Education Awards, the largest and longest-running scholarship programme; Bermudascholarships.com, founded by Abic as the definitive source for scholarship information in Bermuda; Virtual Enterprises International Programme, where Abic partners with member companies to facilitate The Berkeley Institute’s virtual product creations for presentation to other VEI classes around the world; Curriculum support with the Ministry of Education to provide curriculum material that gives students aged 11-13 an understanding of IB and the Bermuda economy; and Careers Panel where young professionals are taken to The Berkeley Institute and CedarBridge Academy to speak to students about careers in IB.

Rachel Field, of RK Field, LLC, a consultant working with Abic on DEI initiatives, said: “From the meetings we have had with CEOs and HR professionals, it is clear that there is progress in terms of commitment to DEI in Bermuda’s international business sector.

“There are certainly more champions within organisations asking questions around equity of opportunity and we are seeing companies doing things differently. Some come at it from the social justice perspective, some see the business case and some see the talent that’s untapped.”