IOI Concludes World Conference with New Governance Structures

The International Ombudsman Institute convened a successful World Conference in Wellington, New Zealand last week. In addition to conference programs attended by 280 Ombuds and others, the IOI also adopted new by-laws, elected a Board of Directors, and appointed an Executive Committee.

The current IOI Directors are:

Africa

• John R. Walters, National Ombudsman, Namibia (Africa Regional President)
• Déborah Traore, Médiateur du Faso, Burkina Faso
• Caroline Sokoni, Commission for Investigations, Zambia

Asia

• Vacant

Australasia and Pacific

• Chris Field, Ombudsman Western Australia (Australia Regional President)
• Alan Lai, Ombudsman Hong Kong
• Beverley Wakem, Chief Ombudsman New Zealand

Caribbean and Latin America

• Lynette Stephenson, Ombudsman Trinidad and Tobago (Caribbean and Latin America Regional President)
• Nilda Arduin, Ombudsman, Saint Maarten

Europe

• Alex Brenninkmeijer, National Ombudsman, The Netherlands (Europe Regional President)
• Elisabet Fura, Parliamentary Ombudsmen, Sweden
• Irena Lipowicz, Human Rights Defender, Poland
• Rafael Ribó, Síndic de Greuges de Catalunya, Spain / Catalunya
• Peter Tydall, Public Services Ombudsman for Wales, UK / Wales

North America

• Diane Welborn, Ombudsman, Ohio, USA
• Peter Hourihan, Alberta Ombudsman, Canada
• Howard Sapers, Correctional Investigator of Canada

The Executive Committee is comprised of:

• IOI President: Dame Beverley Wakem (New Zealand) 
• IOI 1st Vice-President: Mr John R. Walters (Namibia) 
• IOI 2nd Vice-President: Ms Diane Welborn (USA / Ohio) 
• IOI Treasurer: Alan N. Lai (China / Hong Kong) 

(IOI News; Voxy.)

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