IOA Posts Agenda for 2025 Annual Conference in Florida

The International Ombuds Association has opened registration for its 20th annual conference. The event is set for April 7-9, 2025 in Miami, Florida at the Hilton Miami Downtown. The conference is preceded by three days of training session. Registration is now open and IO has published the tentative conference agenda:

 

Friday | 4 April

Foundations Course (pre-registration is required)

 

Saturday | 5 April

Foundations Course

 

Sunday | 6 April

Foundations Course (pre-registration is required)

Ombuds Lounge Open

 

Monday | 7 April

Research Café Coffee and Snacks | Overture Foyer I

Welcome | Symphony 1-3

Opening Keynote: Adar Cohen | Symphony 1-3

Concurrent Session Block 1

• CS 1A: Lions, Tigers and Bears, Oh My! Addressing External and Internal Policy Changes that Impact Ombuds Offices, Ellen M Miller, Sarah Klaper, and Jessica Kutcha-Miller
• CS 1B: Ombudsing While Trans: Leveraging Queer Theory in Conflict Resolution Practice, Finn Schneider and Markku Makinen
• CS 1C: Organizational Ombuds: Deliver on Your Promise of Confidentiality, Megan Willoughby and Bruce MacAllister
• CS 1D: Why Good Charters are Important for Ombuds and their Organizations and How to Respond and Address Challenges to Adopting a Good Charter, Chuck Doran, Chuck Howard, and Allison Monyei Whaley
• CS 1E: Effective Coaching in Ombuds Practice: The EASE Model, Brent Epperson and Laura Armstrong

Lunch Buffet

Concurrent Session Block 2

• CS 2A: Demystifying and Destigmatizing the Reality of Ombuds Litigation Involvement: Insights and Learnings for When It Happens to You, Sean Banks
• CS 2B: Practical Skill-Building for Ombuds Practice: Issue Identification, Linda Brothers
• CS 2C: Unraveling Stories: An Examination for the Narrative Curious Practitioner, Nicholas Theotocatos
• CS 2D: A Winning Combination: A Reciprocal Relationship with Student Interns/Workers in Ombuds Practice, Donna Buehler, Jivanto Van Hemert and Lana Smith-Hale
• CS 2E: Survey Session

Mary Rowe Keynote | Symphony 1-3

Afternoon Mini Sessions | Symphony 1-3

• Updates from IOA's Artificial Intelligence (AI) Working Group: A Discussion of How AI is Affecting Our Practices and Field, Including Possible Uses, Benefits, Concerns, and Resources, Julie Muroff, Steen Erik Larsen, A.P., and Lisa M. PytlikZillig, PhD
• Passive-Aggressiveness: How to Help Visitors Navigate this Dysfunctional Conflict Management Style, Laura Umphrey
• A Pound of Prevention: Unlocking an Underused Ombuds Competence, James Claxton
• Fostering Organizational Connections Through the 4 P's, Julia Farmer
• The Light-Hearted Ombuds for the Heavy-Hearted Organization, Dr. Clare Elan Fowler
• Ombudsing from Afar: Serving Effectively as a Multi-Site Ombuds, Catherine Briley
• Establishing an Office: 4 Marketing Techniques on Little to No Budget, Michelle Kibby
• Behind the Scenes of Year One: Honest Reflections for Emerging Ombuds, Bridgette Taylor

Common Reading

Dine-Arounds | Offsite

 

Tuesday | 8 April

Keynote | Symphony 1-3

Concurrent Session Block 3

• CS 3A: Cultural Humility: A Lifelong Journey, Nadia Ferrara
• CS 3B: Beyond Words: Gestures as Tools for Communication and Belonging, Ashley Meyer
• CS 3C: Navigating the Landscape of Ombuds: Embedded vs. External Ombuds Services - Theory, Practice, and Real-World Challenges, Shannon Lynn Burton and Kira Nurieli
• CS 3D: From Conflict to Clarity: Ombuds ROI in Times of Change, Sana Manjeshwar, Sue Diviney, Carolyn Esposito, and Dana Hafeed
• CS 3E: Empathy at the Core: Advancing User-Centric Innovation in Ombuds Services, Alexandre Saint-Jean, Evariste Salndjouk

Concurrent Session Block 4

• CS 4A: Clarifying Session Focus: Enhancing Visitor Autonomy Before Exploring Solutions, Angela Dash
• CS 4B: Restoring, Transforming, and Healing - High Emotions, Trauma, and Mindfulness in Ombuds/ADR Practice, Henry Yampolsky
• CS 4C: Strange Bedfellows and Powerful Partners: The Ombuds, The Compliance Officer, Value, and Risk, Jennifer Mahony and Timothy Hogan
• CS 4D: Integrating Ignatian Pedagogy, Empathy, Multipartiality, and Restorative Justice in Ombuds Work, Roy J. J. Pereira and Emelyn Peeana
• CS 4E: Research Update (RNA)

Lunch Buffet | Overture Foyer I

Concurrent Session Block 5

• CS 5A: Lobbying for Ombuds: European Insights for Global Action, Wiktoria Maslowska, Alexandre Bloxs
• CS 5B: The RESOLVE Framework: An Effective Approach to Conflict Management, Diane Holland
• CS 5C: Navigating Mental Health Challenges During Workplace Mediations, Mushegh Manukyan
• CS 5D: Talkin' 'Bout My Generation: Managing Multi-Generational Workspaces, Israela Adah Brill-Cass and Don Greenstein
• CS 5E: Harnessing AI for Impactful Data Management and Presentation, Teresa Ralicki

Ombuds Stories | Symphony 1-3

Affinity Meetings

• Academic Sector Meeting
• US Government/Federal Sector Meeting
• BON
• Canadian Federal Public Service
• Corporate Sector Meeting
• K-12 Sector Meeting

Mentoring Event: What Would You Do? Ethical Dilemmas for New Ombuds    | Symphony 4

Experience on Display

Late Night with IOA: 20th Anniversary Party | Sound Garden

 

Wednesday | 9 April

Practice Edge/Undebate | Symphony 1-3

Brunch and Ombsemble Performance | Symphony 1-3

CO-OP Panel Session | Symphony 1-3

Concurrent Session Block 6

• CS 6A: Enhancing Accountability in the Ombuds Field: Best Practices and Strategies, Diana Trillos
• CS 6B: Culture Clash: Understanding and Resolving Conflict in International Teams, Dona Yarbrough
• CS 6C: We're Human Too: How to Tackle Conflict Among Ombuds, Ernestine A.W. Duncan and Tessa Byer
• CS 6D: Playing Well with Others: Improvisation Activities to Help Ombuds Meet the Moment, Adam Barak Kleinberger

Case Scenarios by Experience Level | Concerto A-D

Traveling Snacks | Overture Foyer I

(IOA 2025 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; IOA Posts Agenda for 2024 Annual Conference in Indianapolis; Call for Presenters: IOA 2025 Annual Conference.