IOA Announces Agenda for 2026 Virtual Conference

The International Ombuds Association has posted details for its next annual conference. The online only event is set for April 13-15, 2026. The conference will be highlighted by keynote addresses by Paul Sotoudeh and M. Gerard (Jerry) Fromm. The conference starts each day at 8:00am Pacific. 

Here is the tentative conference agenda: 

Podcast: Ombuds and MWI Founder

Chuck Doran is the most recent guest on the Blessed Be Podcast. (He is the third Ombuds to be featured on the pod. Hosts Robert Polanco and Dawn Sander say that, "This episode is especially valuable if you’re early in your career or if you’re mentoring others and want to pass on wisdom that goes beyond technique."

Mediate.com Conference Aligns with Ombuds Day 2025

Mediate.com celebrates Ombuds Day at its next on-line conference, "Rising Tides: Raising the Standards of Mediation Conference," on October 8-9, 2025. This year’s Workplace Track (on Ombuds Day) is dedicated to the evolving role of Ombuds and workplace conflict resolution leaders. The keynote speaker, Chuck Doran, will highlight how Ombuds strengthen organizational culture, build trust, and address conflict before it escalates. 

ABA Panel Aims to Inform Corporate Counsel About Ombuds

On May 14, 2025, the American Bar Association, Dispute Resolution Section will offer a webinar on "The Organizational Ombuds – Why Your Company Needs One and What Counsel Should Know." The panel will feature Sana Manjeshwar, Global leader of Chevron´s Office of Ombuds, Steven Prevaux, Faculty Staff Ombuds at the University of South Florida, Mark C. Fava, Vice President and Ombudsman for The Boeing Company, and Chuck Doran, Executive Director of MWI.

CIDR's 2025 Symposium is Loaded With Ombuds Sessions

The Centre for Informal Dispute Resolution at Saint Paul University in Ottawa has released the agenda for its second annual symposium and there are many sessions for and about Ombuds. Organized by two professors at USP: Brent Epperson and Jean-François Rioux, this year's theme is, "Building Better Workplaces: Toward Comprehensive Conflict Resolution Systems." 

Here is a list of the sessions relevant to Ombuds:

Will Work For Food to Host Ombuds Webinar

On April 24, 2025, Chuck Doran will present a free webinar for WWFF on "The Organizational Ombuds – What A Mediator Might Want To Know About This Unique Role." WWFF is a five-year old nonprofit that offers educational webinars by and for attorneys, mediators and arbitrators. In lieu of a fee, attendees are urged to make a donation to a local food bank. ;

ENOHE Announces Agenda for 20th Annual Conference

The European Network of Ombuds in Higher Education has announced details for its 20th annual conference at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam on June 4-6, 2025. The theme is "Building Bridges: Equity, Responsibility, and the Ombuds’ Vision for the Future, Inspired by 750 Years of Amsterdam." Three dozen speakers from 13 different countries will offer insights based on professional experiences building and running Ombuds programs for universities and countries.

CPR Institute Ombuds Webinar is Aimed at Corporate Counsel

On March 5, 2025, the International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution will offer a webinar, "The Organizational Ombuds - What Corporate Counsel Might Want to Consider." Speakers are slated to include: Chuck Howard, Ombuds Consultant; Robyn Diaz, Senior VP & Chief Legal Officer at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (which created an outsourced Ombuds program in 2023; and Chuck Doran, Ombuds and Executive Director of MWI. 

Journal of IOA: Why Ombuds Need a Charter

A new article in the Journal of the International Ombuds Association explains "What an Ombuds Charter is and Why it Matters." The authors are Chuck Howard (attorney and Ombuds consultant; former Executive Director of IOA, and Chuck Doran, CO-OP (outsourced Ombuds and Executive Director/Founder of MWI). They urge Ombuds to have a comprehensive written document that defines the role and relationship between Ombuds and the organization is serves. The article covers the benefits to all parties.

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:

IOA Announces 2024 Honorees

At its annual conference last month, the International Ombuds Association announced its 2024 Trailblazer and President’s Award recipients. “There are so many talented ombuds serving their communities in so many vital ways,” said Alicia Booker, 2023 IOA President. “We are thrilled to honor them for all that they contribute to our profession, and for their extraordinary leadership,” added Sarah Klaper 2024 IOA President.

2023 Year in Review: The Big Story

All things considered, 2023 was a fairly uneventful year for the Ombuds profession. Practitioners have settled into the new, post-pandemic normal: handling most of their case work virtually. The lessons and strategies learned during the Black Lives Matter protests were deployed in response to conflicts related to the Israel Gaza war. Ombuds are watching the approach of Generative Artificial Intelligence (large language model chatbots) warily, but so far the impact has been minimal. For those who follow the Ombuds profession closely, there was one surprising and significant story this year: the rise of MWI as a robust provider of outsourced Ombuds services.

IOA Posts Agenda for 2024 Annual Conference in Indianapolis

The International Ombuds Association has opened registration for its 19th annual conference. Traditionally, the event takes place in April. This year, the event is set for March 18-20, 2024 at the Marriott Indy Place in Downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. 

IOA has also published details for the conference:

MWI Recruits Experienced Ombuds to Expand Operations

Dana Hinojosa, CO-OP, will join MWI as Director of Strategic Engagement in June 2023. She brings a decade of Ombuds and program management experience to MWI, a global provider of outsourced Ombuds and other ADR services. This a new leadership position for MWI, which currently has three other director-level positions (Josh Hoch, Director of Mediation Services; Megan Winkeler, Director of Training & Analytics; and Diana Chiang, Director of Commercial and Corporate Programs; all of whom have Ombuds experience). MWI's Founder and Executive Director, Chuck Doran, is also recruiting a Director of Analytics & Reporting and additional Ombuds panelists. 

Job Posting: MWI

MWI, a global provider of outsourced Ombuds and other ADR services, is accepting applications for its outsourced Ombuds panel. Under the direction of MWI's Founder and Executive Director, Chuck Doran, Ombuds panelists work as independent contractors and provide services to a range of MWI clients. 

Job Posting: MWI

MWI, a global provider of outsourced Ombuds, mediation, and dispute system design services and training since 1994, seeks a full-time Director of Analytics & Reporting. The position will plan, manage, and analyze visitor data and create meaningful and actionable reports for MWI’s outsourced Ombuds clients following IOA Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics. The full-time position will report to MWI's Founder and Executive Director, Chuck Doran. The  work may performed fully remotely, although some travel to client sites may be required.

ABA Webinar to Spotlight Ombuds

On March 29, 2023, the American Bar Association, Dispute Resolution Section will offer a webinar on "Why Your Company Needs an Organizational Ombuds Program to Succeed." Moderated by Elizabeth Hill, Associate Director, Ombuds Office for the University of Colorado Boulder, the program will feature former Head of Ombuds Services at Twitter Dina Lynch Eisenberg, Organizational Ombuds Consultant Chuck Doran, and former IOA Executive Director Charles "Chuck" Howard.

Cambridge Innovation Center Debuts Ombuds Program

The American real estate services company which bills itself as a "community of entrepreneurs," has created an Ombuds program. CIC was founded by Tim Rowe, the son of Mary Rowe, MIT's first Ombuds. MWI, the dispute resolution service and training firm in Boston, was selected to create the program, which will serve employees working across the U.S. and in Rotterdam, Tokyo, and Warsaw. 

Mediate Podcast: Ombuds for Mediators

The Mediate.com Podcast, hosted by mediator Veronica Cravener, covers everything in the world of mediation: conflict resolution, best practices, ethics, technology, and business development. The latest episode offers, "An Introduction to the Ombuds Role for Mediators" with Chuck Doran, CO-OP. In the past year, Doran and his dispute resolution firm, MWI, have served as Ombuds for Iowa State University and CVS.

New Ombuds to Resume On-Campus Services at Iowa State University

Laura Smythe has been hired as the ISU University Ombuds. The appointment ends a two-year period during the pandemic when the university outsourced the service to MWI (Jai Calloway and Chuck Doran) who provided services virtually. Smythe comes to ISU after serving as the Ombuds for the University of Idaho since October 2018. According to an announcement from ISU, Smythe will begin providing services remotely until July and there will be an overlap with MWI. (LinkedIn; Inside IA State.)