IOI | New Secretary General Bernhard Achitz takes office

On 10 March 2025, Mr. Bernhard Achitz took office as the new Secretary General of the International Ombudsman Institute. He succeeds Gaby Schwarz in this important role and is looking forward to continuing the important work and services, which the IOI provides to its members around the world. He thanks Ms. Schwarz for her strong commitment and service to the IOI.

Bernhard Achitz studied law at the University of Vienna and graduated with a Master’s Degree. After completing his legal clerkship, he worked at the socio-political department of the Viennese Chamber of Labour and led the Social Policy Department of the Austrian Trade Union Federation until 2007.

Mr. Achitz worked for the Austrian Trade Union Federation in various positions in labour market administration and health administration. From 2008 to 2019, he was the Executive Secretary of the Austrian Trade Union Federation and also a member of the Board of the Federal Chamber of Labour. Furthermore, he was a member of the Administrative Board of the Public Employment Service of Austria from 1999 to 2008. He advocated for trade unions and human rights matters at the international level in several meetings of the International Labour Organization, as well as the European and the International Trade Union Confederation.

As Austrian Ombudsman – a role Bernhard Achitz holds since 2019 – he is responsible for social affairs, nursing care, health, pension and insurance matters, as well as complaints concerning labour-market administration and youth welfare. Issues relating to persons with disabilities and topics, such as the needs-based minimum benefit system and reception conditions are also within his competence as Austrian Ombudsman. 

Mr. Achitz was unanimously appointed as the new IOI Secretary General by the Austrian Ombudsman Board, pursuant to Article 20.1 of the IOI By-laws and Section 9 (17) of the Standing Rules of the Austrian Ombudsman Board. Secretary General Achitz expressed his gratitude to Gaby Schwarz, for the great commitment she showed for the IOI and its members over the past two years. “I am very much looking forward to taking on this important role and to continuing the work of my predecessors together with the excellent team of the IOI General Secretariat,” said Secretary General Achitz, and underlined his commitment to fostering democracy, human rights and the rule of law, as well as strengthening Ombudsman institutions around the world.

Source: The IOI General Secretariat