Not quite middle-aged but at a point well beyond the self-defining years, the Ontario Ombudsman’s Office turned 35 years young, and marked the occasion with a gathering attended by Ministers, MPPs, and other distinguished guests

On 7 October 2010, Mr Konstantin Penchev was elected to the post of Ombudsman by the Bulgarian Parliament. Mr Penchev replaces the previous Ombudsman, Mr Guinio Ganev, who did not stand for re-election. Mr Penchev has been President of the Supreme Administrative Court of Bulgaria since 2004.

The Assembly of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina elected Mrs. Anikó Muskinja Heinrich as Provincial Ombudswoman on 11 October 2010.

On 28 October 2010, a delegation of the Kazakh Ombudsman institution visited the Austrian Ombudsman Board. “The valuable exchange of ideas with the Kazakh experts reflects their interest to get to know successful Ombudsman models like the one in Austria”, said the Chairman of the Austrian Ombudsman Board, Dr. Peter Kostelka, after the visit.

Mr. Jean-Marie Liénard has been appointed as interim Ombudsman for the French-speaking Community of Belgium.

Dr. Lucia Franchini was appointed as new Regional Ombudswoman of Tuscany.

The I.O.I. Board elected a new Executive Committee in October 2010: New Zealand Chief Ombudsman Beverley WAKEM was elected President. Northern Ireland Ombudsman Tom FRAWLEY will serve as Vice-President and Hong Kong Ombudsman Alan LAI was elected I.O.I. Treasurer.

The I.O.I. Board of Directors meeting is taking place in Bermuda from 16 to 20 October 2010 and is hosted by the Bermuda ombudsman Arlene Brock.