IOA Conference 2026 Reflections: 3 Participants, 3 Different Lenses
Julia Healy
HR Professional - Independent Consultant
Seasoned HR Professional & Aspiring Ombuds
As an aspiring Ombuds and seasoned HR professional, I wish to sincerely thank the IOA for giving me the amazing opportunity to attend the 2026 Annual Conference that was held virtually from the 13th to 15th of April. Through my work as an HR professional, I have experienced the powerful and very positive impact that an Organizational Ombuds work has had on both employees and organization.
The thought-provoking discussion during one of the sessions on how to make the invisible visible, resonated strongly with me. Many are unaware of what an Ombuds does and what value they bring to both employees and the organization. In my experience working as an HR professional, I have come to appreciate that the Organizational Ombuds is an invaluable resource to check the pulse of the organization, identify concerns and highlight trends through their reporting of anonymized data. This valuable information enables the organization to take proactive steps to address areas of concern, ensure that it has or develops clear policies and processes, and provides an opportunity to address grievances at the earliest stage to support retention, and to effectively mitigate risk and reputational damage.
Much still needs to be done to educate both employees and senior management of what an Organizational Ombuds does and how they work to provide clarity, build trust and support the invaluable work of the Ombuds. To promote the long-term sustainability of the Ombuds role, it is vital that employees and the senior leadership clearly understand and appreciate the invaluable benefits and return on investment that an Ombuds work brings.
All the sessions and workshops that I attended at the annual conference were both inspiring and thought provoking. The speakers were excellent in their delivery and content. The topics addressed the critical issues that Ombuds face in their day to day work and provided very useful tools to support with key areas of the valuable work that Ombuds do, the key issues that Ombuds face in performing their role and future challenges to address. In particular, I found the sessions "Achieving and Maintaining Ombuds Embeddedness and Effectiveness" and "Stories of Learning, Adapting, and Leading as New Ombuds" very helpful.
Huge thanks the amazing speakers who participated in this annual conference.
Marie Parks
Assistant Ombuds - University of New Mexico
First Conference as an Ombuds
2026 was not only my first virtual IOA conference, but my first conference as an ombuds! I had attended the 2025 Miami conference as our team’s administrative assistant and annual report data wonk. With my additional responsibilities, my 2026 list of learning goals was quite a bit longer.
Making Ombuddy Connections
I went into the event with excitement about what I would learn but tempered expectations regarding the level of connections that were possible at a virtual conference. However, I was delighted by the many opportunities to meet my fellow ombuddies!
It wasn’t an hour into the first day before I received a connection request from an ombuds I’d met last year in Miami. And during the sector meeting, I enjoyed a lively conversation with the higher education group in Gathertown, an adorable virtual world where avatars can mix and mingle. Many of the concurrent sessions integrated breakout groups into their talks, so I also met a number of ombuds from across the world. We made a point to connect on LinkedIn for future conversations.
In just three days, I have dozens of new professional connections, and my cup is full, knowing I’ve landed in such a warm, welcoming, kind profession.
Making Subject Matter Connections
The kaleidoscope of sessions I attended ranged from using deidentified data to tell stories to navigating the Standards of Practice, and from coaching skills to self-care. The first day’s pace was busy, and I hopped from session to session while taking pages of notes. I particularly enjoyed the mini-sessions that gave a small taste for three different topics in under an hour. On days two and three, I settled into a comfortable groove as I learned the ropes of the online conference.
Connection was the throughline that ran through all of the presentations: connections with our visitors borne through close listening, connections with the IOA Ethical Code that informs our decisions, and connections with institutions that seek to equip their communities with the resources and skills to navigate challenging situations.
Regardless of whether we’re embedded or external, collateral or fulltime, green or experienced, all ombuds bring connection into our work. In our modern world that is paradoxically more digitally connected than ever, yet suffering from high levels of loneliness, our role is crucial.
Making Cross-Sector Connections
As the conference wrapped up with a thought-provoking conversation with the esteemed Mary Rowe, we shifted into joint sessions with the American Bar Association (ABA) Section of Dispute Resolution, providing fertile ground for yet more cross-disciplinary connections. While the attendees of these joint sessions may have come from different professional backgrounds, we were united by our commitment to professional standards of practice.
During breakout sessions and group discussions, I watched as we all grappled with the same questions. How do we navigate our work in the era of AI and continued technological advances? How do we define success in our roles on a day-to-day basis? How do we equip those we serve to hear themselves and each other? It truly was a gift to make connections within the ABA and come together for this collaborative learning opportunity.
I’m so grateful for the opportunity to attend the 2026 IOA Conference, and I couldn’t have asked for a more impactful, thought-provoking experience. I can’t wait to see you all in 2027!
Chloe Downs
Organizational Ombuds - NASA
First-Time Participant
My name is Chloe Downs, and I was fortunate enough to receive IOA’s New & Aspiring Ombuds Scholarship to attend the 2026 IOA Annual Conference. The opportunity to learn and hear from other Ombuds from around the world was one of the more meaningful professional experiences I’ve had so far, and, admittedly, a little overwhelming!
The amount of content packed into three short days proved a lot to take in, and I’ve been grateful for conference recordings that allow me to revisit what I couldn’t quite catch in the moment. I have already filled multiple pages of notes with insights, ideas, and theories to guide development of my own Ombuds practice. The Mentoring Café program connected me with a more experienced Ombud, both before and after the conference, and her advice helped me make the most of my time there.
I want to acknowledge everyone who participated and was so willing to connect and share knowledge, but I’m sending particular thanks to IOA for making this scholarship available to new and aspiring practitioners. I cannot wait to attend more conferences in the future!
Reflections from the 2026 IOA Annual Conference I am deeply grateful to IOA for providing me with a scholarship to attend the 2026 Annual Conference. As a new ombuds, this opportunity was both professionally enriching and personally affirming. The conference offered valuable exposure to a wide range of topics relevant to my work, while also creating space to build meaningful connections with colleagues from near and far. One of the strongest themes that emerged throughout the conference was the passion and commitment people bring to the ombuds profession. Through keynote addresses and conversations with experienced practitioners, I was reminded that ombuds serve not only their individual organizations, but also the profession as a whole. Although much of our work happens quietly and behind the scenes, there is an important responsibility to help others better understand the role we play, the values we uphold, and the impact our work has. Being early in my ombuds career, I especially appreciated the sessions designed for newer professionals. The encouragement and willingness of fellow professionals to share their knowledge reinforced the collaborative spirit of the field. While I am fortunate to have strong support from my ombuds colleagues at my institution, it was reassuring to connect with other new ombuds who are navigating many of the same challenges in learning the nuances of a unique profession that can sometimes feel isolating or difficult to explain to others. Another highlight of the conference was hearing the diverse stories shared throughout the sessions and informal conversations. Each perspective reflected the breadth of experiences, institutions, and communities represented within the profession. Those stories underscored the humanity at the core of ombuds work. From broad discussions about the future of the profession to practical conversations about everyday challenges, the conference left me feeling inspired and connected to a larger community of practitioners. I look forward to more opportunities to connect and give back to the organization and profession.