University of North Carolina Wilmington Offers Ombuds Graduate Course

The state research university in Southeast North Carolina is again offering a graduate-level course on Organizational Ombuds. CMR 523 is a three-credit course in UNCW's Master of Arts in Conflict Management and Resolution program. The course provides foundational training for the Organizational Ombuds role and is intended for practicing Ombuds, people interested in becoming Ombuds, and administrators considering establishing an Organizational Ombuds function. The course is also available through UNCW's post-baccalaureate certificate in Conflict Management and Resolution. Kimrey Rhinehardt, a faculty member in the program, teaches the course. 

European Ombuds & Mediators Gather in Salzburg

The European Ombuds and Mediators Group, IOA's Regional Advancement Community, met September 16–17 in Salzburg, Austria, hosted by Salzburg Global. Ombuds participants included: Jan Galkowski, Ombuds with MWI and former Ombuds at Uniwersytet Rzeszowski; Tuba Bilecik, Ombudsperson at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory; Carsten Pöschl, Global Corporate Ombudsperson at SAP; Spyridon (“Spyros”) Antonelos, Head of the Mediation & Ombuds Function at the European Central Bank; and Ion (“Ninel”) Anghel, Director of the PetrOmbudsman Department at OMV Petrom. The meeting provided an opportunity for European Organizational Ombuds to exchange experiences and discuss developments in the profession. (LinkedIn Galkowski, Poschl, Antonelos.) 

Utrecht University Offers Masterclass on Ombuds Practice

Universiteit Utrecht in the Netherlands will offer a five-day training Ombudsfunctionaris in breed perspectief (“Ombudsfunctionaris in Broad Perspective”) on November 23–27, 2026. The program is intended for Ombuds and related professionals, including Classical Ombudsmen, working in areas such as complaints handling, mediation, HR, legal assistance, governance, compliance, and policy advising. 

IOA Signs On as Supporting Sponsor of Virtual ADR Fair

ECADRN, the Early Career Alternative Dispute Resolution Network, will host a Virtual ADR Fair on November 12, 2026, in collaboration with the Ray Corollary Initiative, the Scheinman Institute on Conflict Resolution at Cornell ILR School, and the American Arbitration Association. The event aims to introduce students, early-career professionals, career changers, and others to career pathways in ADR. The two-and-a-half-hour webinar will feature ADR organizations, academic programs, training providers, and professional associations. The International Ombuds Association is a Supporting Sponsor and will introduce attendees to Organizational Ombuds practice as one of the career paths within ADR. 

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.

Virginia Commonwealth University Sets 2026 Conflict Resolution Day Program

VCU's Ombudsperson, William King, has announced details for his 13h annual National Conflict Resolution Day program on October 15, 2026. The keynoter for the program this year will be Linda Brothers, Georgetown University Staff Ombuds. The theme for the one-day conference is "Managing Conflict in a Changing Environment." The rest of the day includes panel discussions and group work, with several other Ombuds from the Mid Atlantic region will serve as facilitators. As usual, the event is free and open to the public.

ABA Program Examines Where Mediation Meets the Ombuds World

The American Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section will mark Ombuds Day 2026 with a virtual program exploring the connections between mediation and Ombuds work. “Options in Action: Where Mediation Meets the Ombuds World” will examine the shared skills and approaches of the two professions, as well as the ways different Ombuds models provide an “Office of Options” for those navigating conflict. 

IOA Announces Speakers for 2026 September Symposium

The International Ombuds Association has released the agenda for its 2026 September Symposium, "Reframing Power and Influence: Exploring Intentional Ombuds Sway and the Tension Around Influence."  The event for intermediate and advanced Ombuds practitioners will take place on September 30 and October 1, 2026, at the Red Cross Headquarters in Washington, DC. 

Call for Presenters: IOA 2027 Annual Conference

The International Ombuds Association is inviting presentation proposals for its 22nd Annual Conference, which will be held in Vancouver, BC, on March 15-17, 2027. The announcement include several significant changes from last year's process, including the addition of half- and full-day pre-conference programs and a possible Research Symposium on the last day of the conference.

Call for Presentations: COFO 2026 Annual Conference

The Coalition of Federal Ombudsman is seeking proposals for presentations at its 2026 Annual Conference, which will be held in Alexandria, Virginia, on September 25, 2026. The free, hybrid event focuses on the needs of Ombuds practitioners serving in the federal government, but welcomes presenters and attendees from across the profession and broader alternative dispute resolution community. 

ABA Ombuds Committee Begins Open Monthly Meetings

The American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution Ombuds Committee will begin monthly meetings on August 25, 2026. These meetings are free and open to "practicing ombuds from any sector, ombuds-curious, or just want to connect with individuals dedicated to the work." Bathabile K. S. Mthombeni and Matt Ricke are the committee co-chairs. Subsequent meetings are planned for: September 22, October 27, and November 24, 2026; and January 26, February 23, and March 23, 2027. (ABA Events.)

FCO Announces 2026 Conference

The Forum of Canadian Ombudsman has released details for its 2026 conference. The event will take place at the Delta Hotels Quebec City on October 19-22, 2026. The conference theme is "Ombuds: Institution of Trust - Strengthening Public Confidence" and registration is now open. 

Here are the scheduled speakers:

Cal Caucus 2026 Has Not Yet Sold Out

For the first time in several years, the California Caucus of College and University Ombuds has not sold out in the first day. Organizers for the event at the Asilomar Conference Center in Pacific Grove, November 8-11, 2026, report that there are still a few spots available. (Cal Caucus Humanitix.)

Registration Opens for 2026 California Caucus

The agenda has been posted for the 2026 California Caucus of College and University Ombuds. Registration for the event, which regularly sells out, opens today. The caucus takes place at the Asilomar Conference Center in Pacific Grove, November 8-11, 2026.

Here is the full agenda for the caucus, "The Grove & the Understory":

ABA Section of Dispute Resolution Seeks Spring 2027 Conference Proposals

The American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution has issued a call for program proposals for its 2027 Spring Conference, which will be held in Chicago on April 16–17, 2027. The Section is seeking forward-thinking, skills-based presentations that help dispute resolution professionals address today's most pressing challenges. Selected programs will be 60 minutes long and feature two to four presenters. The organizers encourage proposals that bring together diverse perspectives, experiences, practice areas, and backgrounds. Proposals are due July 24, 2026. (ABA DRS.)

Registration Opens for Inaugural Mid-Atlantic Ombuds Network Annual Event

Registration is now open for the in-person annual event of the Mid-Atlantic Ombuds Network (MAON). After meeting virtually for several years, the regional group will convene Ombuds and other conflict resolution practitioners in Washington, DC, on October 15, 2026. Registration is $115.06 and includes breakfast, lunch, and a full day of educational programming, networking, and collaborative discussions. 

ABA Section of Dispute Resolution Annual Membership Meeting

The ABA Section of Dispute Resolution will hold its Annual Membership Meeting on Friday, July 31, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern. Outgoing Section Chair Liz Hill will reflect on the Section's work over the past year and share a few thoughts as leadership transitions to a new team for the coming year. As the Section partners with IOA to implement a Model Ombuds Act, this promises to be an exciting year.

2026 International Ombudsman Seminar to Include Two Organizational Ombuds

Hans Kohler and Mary Rowe are among the speakers for Seminário Internacional de Ouvidorias - 2026 taking place next week. The online event is aimed at Classical Ombuds and features 14 senior public servants, Ombuds, and auditors from Brazilian federal and local ministries. Kohler, a Regional Ombuds with the International Organization for Migration in Kenya and Associate Editor of the Journal of IOA, and Rowe, the former inaugural Ombuds for MIT, will join a panel on the topic of "Effective Ombudsman Offices: Challenges and Pathways to Strengthen Structure, Processes, and Culture." 

Registration Opens for 2026 Summer Virtual Small California Caucus

The California Caucus of College and University Ombuds has opened registration for its fourth annual summer meeting. The online event on the morning of June 25, 2026, usually previews the topic for the traditional fall caucus in Pacific Grove.

Here are more details from announcement:

Save the Date for 2027 International Ombud Expo

Organizers have announced that the International Ombud Expo will take place in Willemstad, Curaçao, on May 24-28, 2027, with the theme of "Just Society for All: Celebrating Facilitators and Promoters in a Challenging World." The event follows the second International Ombud Expo, held in Gaborone, Botswana in 2024, which included several Organizational Ombuds (Sana Manjeshwar, Zetu Makamandela-Mguqulwa, Sarah Klaper, and Youssoupha Niang, and IOA Executive Director, Ellen Miller). According to the organizers, the Expo is intended as a global platform for sharing ideas, publications, technology, and governance practices among Ombuds of all types and related institutions. Additional details will be posted when available. (International Ombud Expo.)