Registration remains open for next week’s Dive In Festival which aims to highlight the business case for diverse and inclusive workplaces and provide practical ideas and inspiration for how to bring about positive change.

However, organisers of the festival events are urging those interested in attending to sign up while there is still space available.

The festival will take place from September 26 to 28 with events in a record number of 31 locations across the globe, including Bermuda, London, New York City, Zurich, and new cities such as Beijing, Glasgow, Johannesburg, San Francisco, Madrid, Perth, Rio de Janeiro, and Rome.

In Bermuda, XL Catlin CEO Mike McGavick will open the Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers’ (Abir) event titled “Racial Diversity and Inclusion: Lessons from the Classroom”.

The event, to be held at XL Catlin on September 28, beginning at 2:30pm, will be led by vibrant, talented students from the island’s public schools. They will perform original, locally-scripted vignettes focusing on racial diversity and inclusion. The festival will culminate with a closing event hosted by Aon Bermuda.

Other local events scheduled to take place during the festival include:

• The opening event, “Diversity Dividend — Benefits of a Diverse Team”, hosted by Chubb, which will feature TeamBDA’s Shomari Warner and Dimitri Stephens along with Laura Cutler, the first female manager/director of a Red Bull Youth America’s Cup team. They will share their perspectives on the challenges and benefits of being a part of a diverse team.

• “Preparing for the Next-Gen workplace: Is your organisation ready?” will be presented by returning Dive In speaker and gender and multi-generational expert Christie Hunter-Arscott at an XL Catlin-hosted event.

• “Lip Service: A frank discussion about race in the workplace” will be a world café-style event, hosted by Willis Towers Watson and led by moderator Tiffany Paynter. It will include a group of local leaders (Kirsten Beasley, Catherine Duffy, Barclay Simmons, Tawana Tannock and Paul Scope) discussing and responding to direct questions on race issues in the workplace. Members of the audience will then discuss their own experiences and discomfort in this intimate forum.

• Returning by popular demand to the festival is a refreshed mindfulness session entitled “Today’s Leadership is Evolving: are you a Mindful Leader?” Hosted by Hamilton Re, this facilitated discussion and meditation exercise will explore the benefits of being authentic at work and provide techniques and tips for further developing your mindful leadership style.

• “No Limits”: elite performance coach Dave Alred MBE, who is a pioneer in performance psychology and has worked with some of the biggest names in sports, will lead this interactive session, hosted by Argus. Participants can expect to gain an understanding of Dr Alred’s “no limits” philosophy where there is no thought of failure and everyone has the opportunity to reach their fullest potential.

• The festival closing event will allow participants to discuss the events over cocktails and hors d’oeuvres and share ideas to keep the diversity and inclusion momentum going.

Commenting on the Dive In Festival, Abir senior vice-president, deputy director and corporate secretary, Leila Madeiros said: “Abir is enthusiastic to support efforts to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace including this creative set of events that wrap around the festival. Challenging all of us to expand our understanding and consider the part we play in harnessing diversity benefits both the workplace and society itself.”

The Bermuda Dive In Festival is supported by Abir, Aon, Argus, Chubb, Hamilton Re, Markel, Willis Towers Watson and XL Catlin.

To view the festival local events, go to http://diveinfestival.com/events/?country=34

A mobile app for iPhone and Android devices — available at www.diveinfestival.com — has been designed to facilitate easy event sign-up and is packed with relevant content. Registrants should designate “Hamilton, Bermuda” as the location, and then select the events they are interested in.

All events are open to everyone who works in the re/insurance industry. Attendance is free of charge with prior registration.

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