In response to the needs and concerns identified during this regional consultation in spring 2012 , the Board achieved a revised draft document which was sent to all members via Email in August 2012. All members are once again requested to thoroughly consider the revised draft and send final comments as soon as possible but no later than 15 September 2012.

In its ongoing efforts to increase the value of the IOI to its members and offer concrete membership services, General Secretariat has sent the draft version of the new IOI membership directory for information and feedback to its members.

Mr Colin Neave AM was formally appointed as the Commonwealth Ombudsman on 16 August 2012. Mr Neave's appointment follows an open merit-based selection process, in accordance with the Guidelines established by the Government in 2008. His appointment is for a period of five years commencing on 17 September 2012.

Already twice, the AOB submitted a recommendation to the Federal Government requesting it to ensure an effective and uniform enforcement of the prohibition of discrimination based on ethnic origin. An amendment to the Administrative Procedure Acts now takes into consideration the AOB recommendations.

Ontario Ombudsman André Marin was presented on 13 August 2012 with the Canadian Bar Association (CBA)’s top award for a public sector lawyer, the John Tait Award of Excellence.

The British and Irish Ombudsman Association (BIOA) recently published its Annual Report 2011. The report covers the various events the Association has been organizing in the past year. Further topics are the external relations of the Association, its current work program as well an introduction to the six special interest groups of the Association.

The Office of the Complaints Commissioner of the Cayman Islands recently published an Own Motion Investigation focusing on health and safety at work. The report scrutinizes the state of health and safety in the construction industry in the Cayman Islands – a regulatory infrastructure which, if not improved, could collapse at any moment.

On 7 August 2012 the Ombudsman of Nova Scotia released his peort on the Cumberland Regional Development Authority.