IOA Conference Committee presentation proposals, speaker, and topic suggestions for it's 14th annual conference on the theme of “Ombuds: Providing Calm in a Conflicted World.” The conference is set for April 1-3, 2019 at the Sheraton Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana. 

Topic and speaker suggestions and program proposals should help members promote and protect the profession; enhance knowledge relevant to the profession; and/or develop skills and techniques geared towards improving an ombudsman’s ability to assist their visitors and organizations.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• all aspects of conflict management

• enhancing professionalism of ombudsman work

• the value of CO-OP® certification

• cultural and global competencies

• sector specific constituent issues

• listening and interviewing

• facilitation

• coaching and conducting training programs

• maximizing an ombudsman’s impact on organizations

• integrated Conflict-Management Systems Design

• new and/or alternative means of providing ombuds services

• working with other offices/support services within an organization, including legal counsel, human relations, compliance, and risk management officials

• updates on legal and regulatory frameworks that impact ombuds

Program formats

• Pre-conference specialty workshops (4 or 8 hours, presented on Sunday 31 March)

• Plenary sessions (60 minutes) – Presentation to all conference attendees

• Keynote speeches (60 minutes) – Addresses important issues, principles, and policies relevant to organizational ombudsmen

• Concurrent sessions (90 minutes) – Attendees self-­select which sessions to attend

• A new model for instruction, dialogue, collaboration, or professional development outside the regular blocks described above

Proposals are due by Friday, October 12, 2018. (IOA Conf Proposals.)

Related Ombuds Blog post: IOA 2018 Conference Nutshell.