IOA Announces 2024 Honorees

At its annual conference last month, the International Ombuds Association announced its 2024 Trailblazer and President’s Award recipients. “There are so many talented ombuds serving their communities in so many vital ways,” said Alicia Booker, 2023 IOA President. “We are thrilled to honor them for all that they contribute to our profession, and for their extraordinary leadership,” added Sarah Klaper 2024 IOA President.

Trailblazer Award

Tom Kosakowski, JD, University of Southern California University Ombuds for the Health Sciences Campus, is the recipient of the 2024 Trailblazer Award, the IOA’s highest honor that recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the organizational ombuds field over an extended period of time. Kosakowski was chosen for his vision and leadership in creating The Ombuds Blog. For the past 18 years, Kosakowski has shared over 6,500 updates for all Ombuds regardless of sector and location creating a critical resource for the profession.

President's Awards

Eleven individuals also received the 2024 President’s Award, which recognizes distinguished individuals for their commitment to serving the ombuds field and/or the International Ombuds Association. The 2024 President’s Award recipients include:

• Kirsi Aulin, MS CO-OP®, University of Colorado Boulder CO-OP®

• Wayne Blair, MA, Asian Development Bank

• Suzanne Diviney, JD, CO-OP®, Pfizer

• Chuck Doran, CO-OP®, MWI

• Thomas Griffin, JD, University of California, Los Angeles

• Katie Manderson, MA, ACC, US Department of Veteran Affairs

• Jennifer Moumneh, CO-OP®, University of California Irvine

• Jutta Reitmeier, Mars

• Ronnie Thomson, Sandia National Laboratories

• Diana Vermeul, World Bank Group, Respectful Workplace Advisors Program

• Lisa C. Yamagata-Lynch, PhD, CO-OP®, University of Tennessee Knoxville

(IOA Press Release.)

Related posts: IOA Honors Professional Leaders at 2022 Conference; Conference Guide for IOA 2024; IOA Board Selects Officers for 2024 Term.