IOA 2023 Attendee Experience

Community Building

Every year, members of the International Ombuds Association, colleagues, and friends collaborate and meet at the IOA Annual Conference. This year, the Conference Committee has built an event with plenty of opportunities to connect, meet, strengthen, and create friendships within the IOA community.

Welcome Reception: On Monday 3 April, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., make new connections and spark old ones at the official welcome reception. Enjoy a cash bar and light appetizers while grooving to the sounds of Trish Savage Quartet featuring members of the Polyrhythmics, the Pacific Northwest’s coolest jazz interpreter of everything from the Great American Songbook to Seattle’s grunge classics, all with a Latin tinge. 

Early Bird Activities: Up early? Want to relieve some stress before a long day of conference sessions? Pick from four before-hours activities that will help you recharge and recenter, including a two-mile light morning run, a quick walk around Downtown Seattle, pilates, and a gratitude meditation. 

Morning Run at 6:00 AM. Meet in Foyer to go on a two-mile light run through Downtown Seattle.

Pilates at 6:30-7:00 AM in Blakely: Come and start your day by activating your core and stretching out. Pilates classes are a full body workout that creates long, lean muscles. Pilates Mat is performed on a mat on the floor and achieves results by using gravity and your body's own resistance. Join us for a 30 minute mat session. Mat is optional, you can just utilize the floor if you don't have a mat. 

Walking at 6:30 AM on Tuesday. Join your colleagues for a brisk early morning walk. Decompress and focus while taking in the Seattle scenery. Leaves from the Foyer at 6:30 am

Coffee Talk: Share early morning breakfast, coffee, and conversation with your fellow ombuds. We’ll have tables organized by topics, so you will have plenty to talk about on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 7 - 8 a.m.

Education 

Find the resources and educational sessions that are most relevant to you. We offer a wide variety of breakout sessions hosted by some of the brightest thought leaders in the ombuds community. ​Additionally, almost all of IOA’s Conference sessions are approved for CO-OP® professional development hours.

​View the Conference Schedule >

Learn More About CO-OP® >

Networking

The IOA Conference provides a platform for conversation and relationship-building. Check out a few of the ways you can better connect with your fellow conference attendees.

Ombuds Stories: From 5:15 to 6:30 p.m. on Monday, 3 April, hear stories from practicing ombuds that will provide five glimpses into the personal journeys that delineate the boundaries of the ombuds profession and epitomize the range of experiences we all bring to our work.

Ombuds Lounge: Stop by the Ombuds Lounge, located in the Grand Crescent Room on the fourth floor, to recharge your devices and your spirits. We will have board games, a four-person escape room, and plenty of space to send emails or catch up with new and old friends.

Experience On Display >

Further the Conversation on the New IOA CommUnity

In addition the in-person conversations and events at the conference we invite you to share your experience on the IOA Online CommUnity. Join a discussion, start a conversation about a session topic, and dive deeper into the subject matters that most relate to your ombuds experience. 

Also, post about your experience on the social media platform of your choice. Tag IOA in your posts to share your conference experience with the greater IOA community.

Learn more about the Online CommUnity >