Part of IOA's current and continued strategic work is ensuring that “Ombuds have the capacity and tools to position themselves as essential contributors and trusted advisors in their organizations.” A lot of our work at the board and committee level has worked to equip our members in accurately and appropriately identifying our value and uniqueness for our visitors, organizations, and the broader world. We often accomplish this through our educational programming. 

With that in mind, I’ve been thinking a lot about our annual conference this year. For many in our community, the periodic virtual conference allows the opportunity to participate and connect in ways that they wouldn’t be able to, whether because of distance, funding, or circumstance. 

Throughout our keynotes, our concurrent sessions, and connecting in Gathertown, attendees were engaged with the thought leadership in our Zoom rooms. Those who were able to attend agree. A preliminary review of the conference feedback shows that people enjoyed the conference, even though, as a community, we have a preference for gathering together in person.

The IOA is teaming up with the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution to produce two applied learning tracks that will take place on Wednesday, 15 April 2026, from 1:00 to 4:00 PM ET. These sessions will close out IOA’s Annual Conference and launch the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution’s Spring Conference.  

Led by IOA President Jenn Mahony and ABA Section of Dispute Resolution Chair Liz Hill, this virtual event brings together experienced professionals from across the dispute resolution landscape.  

IOA is looking for members who have specific skills in the following areas to co-facilitate these sessions. We will select two facilitators/instructors - one for each track to work with the facilitator/instructor selected by the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution. For those interested, please email [email protected] by Wednesday, 12 November. Please attach your CV/resume and detail your experience training in either area. Details about these sessions are below.  

Message from IOA President Jenn Mahony 

Our hearts continue to be with our US federal ombuds colleagues at this time of tremendous uncertainty as we enter the fourth week of the US government shutdown. We hope that an effective and positive end is in sight.

We recognize too that our UN and other NGO ombuds colleagues are navigating uncertainty as their agencies grapple with the impact of decreased  US aid. We hope that certainty is on the horizon.