IOA Posts Agenda for 2024 Annual Conference in Indianapolis

The International Ombuds Association has opened registration for its 19th annual conference. Traditionally, the event takes place in April. This year, the event is set for March 18-20, 2024 at the Marriott Indy Place in Downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. 

IOA has also published details for the conference:

Saturday | 16 March

Preconference Workshops

Pre-Conference Workshop (full day): 3Practice Circles | Room 101-2, Jim Henderson and Jim Hancock

Pre-Conference Workshop (afternoon): The Trust Catalyst - Ombuds Strategies for Building Belonging | Room 103-4, Kim Nakiya Howard

Sunday | 17 March

Pre-Conference Workshop (full day): Adult Mental Health First Aid Certification | Room 103-4, LaToya Burdiss

Pre-Conference Workshop (morning): 3Practice Circles Continued | Room 101-2,
Jim Henderson and Jim Hancock

Pre-Conference Workshop (afternoon): Play, Simulate, Reflect: A Guide for Deep Group Facilitation | Room 101-2, Jennifer Mahony

Main Conference Begins

New Attendee Meet and Greet | White River E-F

Welcome Reception | White River E-F

Monday | 18 March

Welcome and Round Table Discussions | White River E-F

Keynote: Khaliah O. Guillory | White River E-F

Mary Rowe Keynote | White River E-F, tbd

Lunch Buffet | White River Foyer

Concurrent Session Block 1

• CS1A: Staying With and Embracing Conflict: Moving from Triage to Long-Term Recovery | White River C-D, William Austin

• CS 1B: The Usual Suspects 2.0 | White River G-H, Roy Baroff, Geetha Ravindra, Brian Bloch, and Elisa Enriquez

• CS 1C: Using Positive Psychology to Help Ombuds – and Our Visitors and Organizations- Flourish! | White River I-J, Julie Muroff

• CS 1D: Failure, Self-Reflection, and Accountability in Ombudsing | White River B, Brian Green

Concurrent Session Block 2

• CS 2A: Increase Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion with Storytelling | White River C-D, Shannon Peel

• CS 2B: Getting Unstuck from Ombuds Data Collection and Analysis: Seven Simple Principles | White River G-H, Lisa Yamagata-Lynch and Bina Patel

• CS 2C: An Introduction to Powerful Non-Defensive Communication (PNDC) for Ombuds | White River I-J, Melinda Gehris and Lauren Adams

• CS 2D: Facilitation Skills-Builder | White River B, Frieda Hoffman

Sector Meetings

• Academic Sector Meeting | White River C-D

• Government/Federal Sector Meeting | Room 201-2

• Corporate Sector Meeting | White River I-J

• K-12 Sector Meeting | Room 207

• International Sector Meeting | Room 208

• Open/Unhosted Sector Meeting | Room 209

Special Topic Discussion: Impacts of Global Events | White River G-H

Afternoon Snack Sessions | White River E-F

End-of-Day Learning Circles | White River E-F

Ombuds Stories | White River C-D

Dinner with an Expert

Tuesday | 19 March

Keynote: Adar Cohen | White River E-F

Practice Edge/Undebate | White River E-F

CO-OP Panel Session | White River E-F

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM tbd

Lunch Buffet

• Volunteer Luncheon and Scholarships

Concurrent Session Block 3

• CS 3A: Salaries, Systemic Change, and DEIB – Implications from IOA Compensation and Practice Data | White River C-D, Jennifer Schneider, Mary Rowe, Timothy Hedeen, and Hector Escalante

• CS 3B: Leveraging Cultural Diversity: Identifying, Resolving and Preventing Cultural Conflicts | White River G-H, Qinhui Jiang and Balint Balassa

• CS 3C: Pandora's Box or Powerful Tool? Befriending Emotions in Ombuds Practice | White River I-J, Tracey Brant

• CS 3D: Putting Aside Neutrality: When an Ombuds Needs to Advocate for IOA Compliance | White River B, Chuck Doran, Tom A. Kosakowski, and Charmhee Kim

Concurrent Session Block 4

• CS 4A: The New Ombuds in Your Office: What You Think They Need to Know and What They Think They Need to Know | White River C-D, Marsha Baum and Ronnie Thomson

• CS 4B: Advocating for Your Office | White River G-H, Ellen Miller, Sarah Klaper, and Mark Patterson

• CS 4C: The Spiral of Conflict: Finding Connectedness through the Darkness and Isolation of Being in Conflict | White River I-J, Neal Powless

• CS 4D: Neuroscience, Ombud's Practice, and Scared Brains | White River B, Francisco Espejo

Concurrent Session Block 5

• CS 5A: Connected...at Arm's Length – Ombuds, Organizational Leaders, and Human Resources | White River C-D, Stacy Rouse

• CS 5B: Enhancing Visitor's Engagement: What Are the Vital Functions of Ombud Office Websites? | White River G-H, Sara Kim, Heidi von Harscher, Ruthy Kohorn Rosenberg, Chuck Sloane, and Tom A. Kosakowski

• CS 5C: Introduction to Research for All Ombuds: What and Why We Need to Know | White River I-J, Julie Muroff and Shannon Burton

• CS 5D: Adding Value-Expanding the Pie beyond the Numbers: Making the Case for Organizational Ombuds' Continued Fiscal and Operational Utility in Challenging Times | White River B, Kevin Linder

Experience on Display | White River Foyer

Learning Circles | White River E-F

Movie Night: Star Wars and Conflict Resolution | White River E-F

Offsite Events

Wednesday | 20 March

Breakfast Buffet with the Board

Concurrent Sessions 6

• CS 6A: Teaching Resilience through an Ombuds Lens | White River C-D, Michael Steinberg

• CS 6B: Supercharge your Ombuds Practice | White River G-H, Cindy Mazur

• CS 6C: Defensive Communication and Threats to Identity: Reshaping Our Communication Choices | White River I-J, Laura Umphrey

Mentoring Event | Room 204-205

Discussion Groups | White River E-F

JIOA Panel | White River C-D

Closing | White River E-F

(IOA Conf Info.)

Related posts: IOA Announces Agenda for 2020 Conference in Portland; IOA Posts Details of 2021 Virtual Conference; IOA Pivots to Second Virtual Conference, Seeks Speaker Proposals; IOA Releases Detailed Agenda for 2022 Virtual Conference; IOA 2023 Conference Guide; Call for 2024 IOA Conference Presenters.