Search
Member Login

About the International Ombuds Association (IOA)

Mission:

The mission of IOA is to advance the profession of organizational ombuds and ensure that practitioners are able to work to the highest professional standards.

Vision:

The vision of IOA is to have an ombuds office in every organization.

Who We Are

 The International Ombuds Association (IOA) is the professional association committed to championing Organizational Ombuds worldwide. Our members help organizational stakeholders raise patterns and concerns, navigate conflict, and manage change to support highly effective and healthy organizations. 

What We Do

IOA sets the standard for excellence by establishing Standards of Practice, a Code of Ethics, and certifying Organizational Ombuds Practitioners (CO-OP®). We Champion Organizational Ombuds Worldwide through: 

 We Advance the Profession of Organizational Ombuds with: 

As the ombuds profession and IOA continue to evolve, we continue to look for new and innovative ways in which to best meet the needs of our growing membership, to enhance our membership experience, and to promote the profession. Learn more by viewing our Strategic Plan.

Our History

The name “ombudsman” (OM-budz-man) comes from Swedish and literally means “representative.”  The International Ombuds Association (IOA) was officially formed in July 2005 following the merger of The Ombudsman Association (TOA) and the University and College Ombuds Association (UCOA). In 2021, by vote of the membership, IOA officially changed its name from International Ombudsman Association to International Ombuds Association as a part of revising its bylaws. IOA is the largest international association of professional organizational ombuds practitioners in the world, representing members from across the globe. IOA was built on the traditions of TOA and UCOA; IOA offers a full roster of professional training and education programs for the practicing ombuds professional and those interested in learning about our practice.

The leadership of IOA consists of a 15-member volunteer Board of Directors elected by the membership; standing committees composed of volunteer members with chairs appointed by the Board, and other strategic IOA initiatives comprised of member volunteers who have expertise and passion for specific areas of practice. Learn more about IOA by reviewing our Annual Reports.

Our Members

IOA represents members from across the globe. Learn more about our membership from the infographic below and read about the people who make up our association, where do they come from, and what their work looks like on The Independent Voice our association blog. Also, take a moment to explore all that IOA has to offer by reviewing our full list of member benefits. 

What Is an Organizational Ombuds?
Learn About IOA Membership
IOA Bylaws