Hot Air Balloon 2

Dive In Festival 2023

An initiative of Inclusion@Lloyd’s, Dive In is the multi-award winning festival for diversity, equity and inclusion in insurance.

Dive In is a global movement in the insurance sector to support the development of inclusive workplace cultures.

Dive In 2023

In its ninth year, the Dive In Festival continues on its mission to enable people to achieve their potential by raising awareness of the business case and promoting positive action for diversity in all its forms.

From 26-28 September 2023, this 'hybrid' festival, will have events taking place in-person and online, in up to 40 countries around the world, many in which Kennedys has a presence. The theme for this year is 'Unlocking Innovation: The Power of Inclusion'.

Kennedys is very proud to once again be a global partner of the festival - our sixth consecutive year - and involved in the organisation of it. Kennedys’ presence and participation will be stronger than ever and right across our global network, seeing the firm associated with many events in various capacities, with Kennedys people organising, hosting, chairing and speaking at events, around the world.

Our events

Meet our Dive In 2023 speakers and organisers

In the lead-up to Dive In 2023, we’re meeting some of the moderators, speakers and organisers who are making the global DE&I festival happen. 

More about Dive In festival

In 2023 the festival will focus on the theme of 'Unlocking Innovation: The Power of Inclusion', calling on the industry to create inclusive cultures that value diverse perspectives.

Unlocking innovation through inclusion

In previous years the festival has explored how organisations can embrace a more diverse and inclusive workforce; and in 2022 that progressed to building braver, psychologically safe work cultures – both on and offline – that truly allow people to feel safe, valued, respected and free to express themselves.

Now, in 2023, the agenda moves to focus on encouraging those across the commercial and operational side of the insurance industry to action change that will encourage greater inclusivity and drive innovation.

Creating an inclusive culture that values diverse perspectives is essential for driving innovation in the insurance industry.

The global economy continues to face enormous and unprecedented challenges, which the insurance industry needs to rapidly adapt to. For the sector to keep up, it needs to innovate.

Unlocking innovation demands a culture where diverse perspectives are not just valued, but used as a competitive advantage.

The time has come to move from talking to action, and to do that the support of the entire industry is needed. Dive In 2023 is calling for collective action to create inclusive cultures that will move the industry forward and drive innovation that will solve some of the world's biggest challenges.


Objectives for Dive In 2023

General objectives

  • Increase awareness of DE&I topics across the insurance industry throughout the year
  • Enable Dive In Participants to take year-round action to enhance DE&I
  • High attendance and active participation at all Dive In events
  • Maintain global reach with consistent high quality delegate experience
  • Attract diverse groups into insurance via the careers conference
  • Generate applications to early careers programme to support 1 in 3 hiring ambition and broader diversity/social mobility ambitions.

Dive In across the globe

  • Continue to engage and educate people at all levels on the business case for Diversity & Inclusion
  • Provide the audience with understanding, knowledge and tools to implement positive change
  • To create impact for diversity & inclusion within the insurance industry
  • Deliver high quality events with a spread of activities
  • Enable Dive In Participants to take year round action to enhance DE&I (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion).

In new countries

  • Concentrate on raising awareness for diversity and inclusion
  • Consider ways to build momentum for the DE&I agenda.

In existing Dive In countries

  • Increase focus this year on attracting new audiences beyond the ‘converts’ and creating/sharing the tools that will encourage attendees to move from awareness into action and create measurable impact.


2023 is staying hybrid

After the success of Dive In across recent years, the Dive In Festival 2023 will continue to be a hybrid festival with some events taking place in person, some virtually, and some hybrid (delivered physically and virtually streamed).

A hybrid festival allows for events to be both delivered and attended globally with the additional option for speakers to be based in different international locations.

In 2022, the festival had a record-breaking turnout of 34,000 global attendees, engaging in 150 events from 40 countries.

Dive In is the sector’s only international DE&I festival that runs concurrently in multiple organisations across all continents. The festival raises awareness and builds momentum, and aims to engage and educate people within the Lloyd’s market on the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion in insurance by providing people with understanding, knowledge and the tools to implement positive change. It helps promote a different view of insurance to a variety of stakeholders and to prospective employees both within and outside the industry.

Dive In recognises that the global risk industry is facing complex challenges such as climate change and cyber crime. In order to attract the very best talent to keep pace with the rate of change, insurance needs to focus on its reputation as a great sector to work in. This means looking beyond traditional definitions of diversity to level the playing field for talent comprehensively including gender, gender identity, age, cultural background, sexual orientation, social mobility, faith, caring responsibilities, mental health and physical impairments.

Dive In promotes year-round best practice in diversity and inclusion with tools and advice that culminate in an annual three-day festival in September. Events are hosted in insurance companies, brokers, underwriters and associated service providers, of all types and sizes, around the world.

Originally conceived, in London in 2015, by DE&I strategy steering group,  Inclusion@Lloyd’s, a collaboration between the Corporation of Lloyd’s, IUA, LIIBA, and the Lloyd’s Market Association, Dive In has now grown far beyond its roots to become an award-winning global movement that is embraced by the wider insurance industry.

Inclusion at Lloyd’s also supports the insurance partner networks; GIN, iDAWN, iCAN, NGIN, Insurance Families Network, LINK.

Dive In's vision is that insurance is recognised as a progressive industry where workplace cultures create a level playing field for talent, attracting the very best people. Its mission is to enable people to achieve their potential by raising awareness of the business case and promoting positive action for diversity in all its forms.

Find out more

Videos

Our Dive In partnership over the years

Dive In Timeline Digital3

Diversity at Kennedys

We have a distinctive culture at Kennedys that makes us a successful firm where people enjoy coming to work. Our culture is a source of strength and differentiates us from our competitors. We are very conscious that as a diverse and global firm we need to ensure that everyone, whoever or wherever they are in the firm, shares and embraces our values. Underpinning our values is our involvement in events that celebrate diversity, equity and inclusion within the sectors in which we operate.

Key contacts

Marianne Blattes Half Body Large_1620X1080

Marianne Blattès

Senior Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Manager - London

Kate Hursthouse Half Body Large 1620X1080

Kate Hursthouse

Head of Responsible Business - London

Karen Snell Half Body Large 1620X1080

Karen Snell

Chief Business Development & Marketing Officer - London

Anna Weiss Half Body Large_1620X1080

Anna Weiss

Foreign Legal Consultant (Not Admitted to Practice Law in Florida) Partner (Qualified in England & Wales) - Miami

Noura Sultan Half Body Large 1620X1080

Noura Sultan

Associate (Foreign Qualified Lawyer - England & Wales) - Copenhagen