The Ombuds Blog: COFO Announces 2026 Annual Conference

September 21, 2026

COFO Announces 2026 Annual Conference

The Coalition of Federal Ombuds will hold its 2026 Annual Conference on Friday, September 25, 2026, with both in-person and virtual attendance options. The in-person conference will be held at the Clara Barton Auditorium at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in Alexandria, Virginia. Registration is free and required, and will close at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday, September 24.

The program will include:

Welcome & Opening Remarks

Plenary 1: “Conflict at Capacity: The New Operating Environment” – Kimberly Mlinaz

Blip: “We are Ombuds” – Belinda Robinson

Plenary 2: “The Ombuds as a Navigator of Psychological Safety” – Jessica Simpson

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

Updates from Ombuds and ADR organizations - USOA • IOA • ABA Dispute Resolution Group • IAADRWG

Lunch

Plenary 3: “Confidentiality in the Age of AI: Considerations for Federal Ombuds” – Elisa Enriquez and Bina Patel

Plenary 4: “Enhancing Self-Awareness and Effective Techniques for Managing Triggers and Engaging with Those We Trigger” – Jean Coleman

Blip: “AI, Iatrogenic Harm, and Ombuds Activity” – Yvonne Vissing

Plenary 5: “AI One Year Later: The Cognitive Amplifier” – Kimberly Mlinaz

COFO Executive Committee/Closing Remarks

The conference is free and has been approved for up to four IOA Professional Development Hours. (COFO Registration.)

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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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September 21, 2026

COFO Announces 2026 Annual Conference

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