Impact & Innovation Award – open for nominations!

Nominations for the OA’s Impact & Innovation Award are now open!

The award was created to recognise and celebrate the outstanding work that so many in the ombudsman community do. Last year’s winner, Polly Cox, won for her innovative work in developing the Housing Ombudsman's online Centre for Learning. Previous winners have won the award for their transformative impact on the armed forces service complaints landscape, their work leading the Parliamentary & Health Service Ombudsman’s academy team, and for work 
embedding a human rights-based approach across 
the Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman’s investigations. 

• Eligibility criteria update: We’ve expanded the scope and eligibility criteria so the award can now accept nominations for both individuals and teams.  
   
• Promotional materials: You can use the attached video and poster to raise awareness within your organisation during the nomination process. 
   
• I&I Awards page within OA Community: The Impact and Innovation Award – Information Area on the OA Community brings together everything you need in one place: promotional materials, the nomination form, and insights from previous winners about what the recognition meant to them. 

If a colleague or team comes to mind who has delivered meaningful impact or introduced innovative ways of working, we encourage you to nominate them for this year’s award.

The winner will receive complimentary attendance at the OA Conference (9–11 June 2026), a feature in the OA Newsletter and That OA Thing podcast (optional), and a £100 dining-out voucher – providing a platform to showcase their achievements across the wider ombudsman sector. 

Nomination Process:
Nominations must be supported by two members of the OA, which can be any member of staff from an OA Ombudsman Member scheme, from an OA Complaint Handler Member scheme, or an Associate Member. The judging panel will review all nominations and select the individual who has made the most significant impact or innovation in the sector.

The 2026 judging panel consists of:

• Margaret Kelly, OA Chair (and Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman)
• Bill Fennell, OA Vice Chair (and Chief Ombudsman at The Motor Ombudsman)
• Polly Cox, 2025 Winner of the Impact and Innovation Award

Nominations should be submitted to Donal Galligan: donal.galligan@ombudsmanassociation.orgby 20 March 2026, using the attached nomination form.

Help us celebrate individuals and teams who are driving meaningful impact and innovation across the ombudsman sector in 2026 – submit your nomination today and shine a line on their achievements!

Thank you for your support and good luck!