The Ombuds Blog: Podcast: Ombuds and IOA Board Member

June 03, 2025

Podcast: Ombuds and IOA Board Member

Jacqueline Villafañe was a recent guest on the Blessed Be Podcast. She shared her experience and insights on managing conflict drawn from her work as an organizational psychologist and Ombuds. Villafane is a current member of the IOA Board of Directors and also serves as the Ombuds for The MacArthur Foundation and University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, among other clients. (Blessed Be Podcast.)

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Organizational Ombuds

Organizational Ombuds serve as a confidential, independent, neutral and informal dispute resolution resource for a specific entity. They are accessible to a defined population and can advocate for fairness. These unique characteristics distinguish Organizational Ombuds from Classical Ombuds, mediators, arbitrators, and other alternative dispute resolution professionals. The term "Ombuds" is shorthand for "Ombudsman," "Ombudsperson" and "Ombuds Officer," which also are used widely.

Some other variants include:

Brazil -- Ouvidor

Croatia -- pravobranitelji

France -- médiateur/defénseur

Germany/Austria -- Ombudspersonen and Ombudsleute

Italy -- difensore

Netherlands -- ombudspersoon

Norway -- ombudet

Poland -- Rzecznik

Portugal -- provedor

Russia -- омбудсмен

Spain -- ombudsman organizacional

Sweden -- studentombud

Switzerland -- ombudsmann

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June 03, 2025

Podcast: Ombuds and IOA Board Member

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