What Is IOA?

The International Ombuds Association (IOA) is a member-led, professional association committed to supporting organizational ombuds worldwide. At the most fundamental level, an organizational ombuds is one who assists individuals and groups in managing conflicts and raising concerns in service of a highly effective and healthy organization. There are a number of different titles or names for this position: “ombudsman,” “ombudsperson,” “ombuds,” or “ombud” among others. There are different types of ombuds with different roles, functional responsibilities, and standards of practice including: organizational ombuds, classical ombuds, and advocate ombuds. IOA members are the heart and the heartbeat of our association. Membership is important to us, and we strive to foster meaningful member engagement throughout the association.

Learn More About IOA

Learn More About Ombuds

News & Updates

Get Involved!

Contribute your ideas and expertise to make a difference in the future of our profession! Whether you are interested in planning educational programming, advocating for the ombuds profession, or developing new resources and networking opportunities for ombuds, there's a spot for you.

Joining a committee or task force is also a great way to grow your professional network and gain leadership skills. 

Learn More