An organisation set up to promote racial equality in the world of big business has held its first live networking event.

More than 150 Black professionals attended the Association for Corporate Racial Equity event at Barr’s Bay Park on Pitt’s Bay Road in Pembroke.

Marlon Williams, the co-chairman said: “Acre was officially launched in the fall 2021 and has found incredible support and engagement from the leaders in our international business community.

“The level of feedback has been most welcomed. We hope to build on this momentum, now with a full leadership team in place, to create the right building blocks to truly make a difference.”

Mr Williams added: “We are grateful to the business professionals who have accepted the challenge to join Acre’s leaders, as well as members, as we collectively aspire to bring this area of diversity, equity and inclusion to the forefront.”

The majority of people at the gathering came from the international business sector and represented the island’s top insurers, reinsurers and corporate services firms.

The organisers said the group spanned career levels, as well as age groups and gender.

They added that the group’s mission was to “strengthen Bermuda’s international business sector through advancing racial equity, advocacy, community-related initiatives and education”.