Dive In festival kicked off to an inspiring start focusing on the issue of gender diversity.
BBC News’ Jane Hill began proceedings, chairing a session with XL Group’s CEO Mike McGavick, Lloyd’s CEO Inga Beale and Karren Brady, Baroness Brady of Knightsbridge, encouraging gender equality in the workplace to a packed Willis Auditorium.
With women accounting for only 8.6% of all executive roles on FTSE 100 companies, the panel agreed on the importance of addressing culture to support gender equality and in turn attracting the best talent.
Why would you consciously or unconsciously allow avoiding hiring the best minds? That is just stupid.” – Mike McGavick, CEO, XL Group
Whilst most of the market were watching in awe as 46 performers from the Brit School broke out into an energetic dance routine outside Lloyd’s’ Tower 1, over two hundred 16 to 18 year old girls from local schools were invited to find out more about a career in insurance through a speed mentoring session at Lloyd’s. This was followed by a panel of industry leaders at QBE offering great tips to women wanting to get ahead in the market.
Day 1 of Dive In festival ended with an engaging exhibition at Hiscox Art café showcasing portraits of women in the Lloyd’s market and their interests outside work. Jude Kelly CBE, Artistic Director of the Southbank, moderated a panel with Inga Beale, Amanda Brown, Group HR Director of Hiscox and Mark Cloutier, CEO of Brit Insurance deliberating how the industry can encourage employees to bring their whole selves to work.
We hope you’ve enjoyed a fantastic first day of Dive In festival and are looking forward to the rest of the week’s events.