Dive In is closing on its most consequential theme. The global festival for culture and talent in the insurance sector reaches its 12th and final edition in September, ending a run that began when inclusion was a peripheral industry conversation and closing at the moment AI is forcing the most significant workplace restructuring the sector has seen in a generation. London market early careers hiring fell 25% in 2025 with a further 25% decline forecast for 2026, according to the London Market Group, with the proportion of under-30 workers potentially falling from 24% to just 7% by 2030 if current trends continue. The inclusion and belonging infrastructure Dive In spent a decade helping to build now has to absorb a workforce transformation that was not part of the original design brief.
Jen Denby, global head of inclusion and diversity at WTW, framed the final edition's specific significance directly. Companies have invested to ensure workplaces are inclusive and foster a stronger sense of belonging, she said, with inclusion firmly embedded into corporate values and strategy. The final year offers the industry a moment to take stock of more than a decade of workplace change - and those learnings should now be applied to the challenge of building workplaces that function well alongside technology.
Mark Lomas, who leads culture, talent and communities at Lloyd's, said there had never been a more important time to discuss how the industry maximises new ways of working for the benefit of all colleagues. "As AI reshapes the way we work, Dive In is uniquely placed to do this," he said.
The festival runs September 22 to 24, drawing professionals from across 30 countries with content available in 60 languages. Themed "The Human gAIn: Powering culture and connection," the programme examines how human qualities can work alongside AI in the insurance workplace, covering high-performance teams, psychological safety, neurodiversity and human-AI relationships. New formats include design jams, TED-style talks and debates.
Headline speakers include Will Greenwood, customer officer at Afiniti and Rugby World Cup winner, Sarah Armstrong-Smith, chief security advisor for EMEA at Microsoft, and behavioural and leadership expert Jez Rose.
Dive In was conceived by Inclusion at Lloyd's, a collaboration between the Corporation of Lloyd's, IUA, LIIBA and the Lloyd's Market Association. Support for the 2026 edition comes from AIG, Aon, Aviva, AXA XL, Gallagher, Liberty Mutual, Lloyd's, Marsh and WTW, among others, with supporter partners including Alliant, AXIS, KPMG, Lockton Re and Swiss Re.
Those who register in the first 24 hours from 08:00 BST on July 14 will be entered into a prize draw. Registration is free and open to all insurance professionals globally. Full details and sign-up are at event's official website.
