August 29, 2025

COFO Announces 2025 Conference

The Coalition of Federal Ombuds has published the agenda for its Annual Conference on September 12, 2025. The conference will be an all-day hybrid event, with an in-person conference hosted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in Alexandria, Virginia. The conference open to all, but aimed primarily at Federal Ombuds of all models. Information and sessions may be relevant to ADR practitioners elsewhere, as well as those interested in other fields

Here is the expected program order and speakers:

Welcome & Opening Remarks

Plenary 1: “Conflict. Evolved. Leading with Humanity in the Age of AI” – Kimberly Mlinaz

Plenary 2: “Community-Centered Collaboration Systems (C3S): An Ombuds Perspective on Building Resilient, Conflict-Positive Organizations” – Scott Deyo

Poem: “Resilient, Yes We Are!” – Olivia Walker

Plenary 3: “Professional Resilience: Ombuds Navigating Change Well” – Jamel Harling

Lunch

Poem: “Thank You For Being an Ombuds” - Belinda Robinson

Plenary 4:  “Evolving with Integrity: The Future of Federal Ombuds in Times of Change” – Jason Karim-Baker and Tyler Smith

Blip: “The Ancient Guide to Ombudsing” – Deanna Yuille Banford

Updates from Ombuds Organizations: International Ombuds Association, United States Ombudsman Association, and the ABA Dispute Resolution Section Ombuds Committee

Plenary 5:  “Between Us: Building Trust, Strength, and Sanity Through Peer Support – A Panel Discussion” – Deanna Yuille Banford, David Close, Stephanie Luckam Garner, Tiffine Johnson-Davis, and Susanne Porch

COFO Executive Committee/Closing Remarks

The conference is free. (Eventzilla Info.)

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2 comments:

  1. Anonymous8/30/2025 5:55 AM

    A swan song for a jewel of an ombuds office.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Paul Sotoudeh8/31/2025 4:16 PM

    After my departure there will still be two outstanding, highly experienced ombuds there to lead the office into the future.

    ReplyDelete

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