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The DIII-D and Tokamak Research Ombuds Resource

Confidential, impartial, independent, and informal support for TR and DIII-D-related concerns and conflict. A trusted place to talk through challenges, explore options, and find constructive ways forward.

We currently serve:
  • All team members associated with DIII-D, including users and GA employees working within DIII-D
  • Tokamak Research Team members

Contact an Ombuds

Meet Your Ombuds

Alnoor Maherali

Alnoor Maherali

D3D Ombuds Team

Alnoor is an experienced ombuds, mediator, trainer, and consultant with over 20 years of work in diplomacy, human rights, crisis management, and conflict resolution across more than 50 countries.

View full profile →
Lexi Wolfe

Lexi Wolfe

D3D Ombuds Team

Lexi is an organizational ombuds and conflict-resolution practitioner who helps leaders and teams navigate difficult workplace situations through coaching, facilitation, and training.

View full profile →

What Is the Ombuds Resource?

The ombuds is an independent, informal resource for discussing your concerns, exploring options, and navigating difficult situations. You can bring questions, challenges, or conflicts of any kind and work through them in a thoughtful, low-risk way.

How the Ombuds Resource Can Help

How We Can Help

  • Listen and provide a confidential space to talk
  • Help you clarify concerns and explore options
  • Prepare for and navigate difficult conversations
  • Identify helpful resources and next steps
  • Surface patterns and concerns anonymously to leadership

What We Do Not Do

  • Conduct formal investigations
  • Make decisions or enforce outcomes
  • Advocate for any one person, DIII-D, or Tokamak Research
  • Replace Human Resources or legal processes
  • Receive official notice for the organization
  • Keep records that identify you

Ways We Can Support You

In addition to one-on-one support, the ombuds offers a range of services to help individuals, teams, and the organization navigate conflict and work more effectively.

One-on-One Conversations

A confidential space to talk through concerns, clarify options, and prepare for next steps.

Facilitated Conversations

Support for constructive, forward-looking conversations between individuals.

Team and Group Support

Facilitation and support for teams working through challenges, communication issues, or conflict.

Workshops and Training

Practical sessions on communication, feedback, and conflict management skills.

Organizational Insight

Identifying patterns and trends to inform improvements in systems, practices, and culture

What Makes An Ombuds Different

The ombuds operates according to four core principles that help create a safe, fair, and trusted experience.

Confidential

The ombuds will not share what you discuss, or even that you met, without your permission, except in rare situations involving imminent risk of serious harm.

Impartial

The ombuds does not take sides for any individual or DIII-D or Tokamak Research.

Informal

The ombuds is an off-the-record resource and does not participate in formal processes.

Independent

The ombuds operates outside management structures and is not part of formal reporting channels.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Ombuds Resource?
The Ombuds Resource provides an independent, confidential, impartial, and informal place to discuss TR and DIII-D-related concerns, explore options, and think through next steps.
Who can use the Ombuds Resource?
Team members associated with DIII-D, including users and GA employees working within DIII-D, and Tokamak Research Team members can use this resource. The ombuds typically respond within one business day.
Does contacting the ombuds give formal notice?
No. The Ombuds Resource is informal and confidential. Speaking with the ombuds does not place the organization on formal notice or start a formal process.
View more questions

More Questions

What does an ombuds do?
The ombuds listens, helps you think through options, prepares you for difficult conversations, and provides guidance on available resources. They do not investigate or make decisions.
What types of concerns can the ombuds help with?
Examples include interpersonal conflict, communication challenges, ethical or policy questions, difficult conversations, and leadership or team dynamics.
Will my visit cause change at DIII-D or Tokamak Research?
The ombuds helps individuals explore options. Aggregated, anonymized trends may be shared with leadership to improve the work environment, but the ombuds cannot mandate action.
Are there limits to confidentiality?
Confidentiality may be limited if there is an imminent risk of serious harm or suspected abuse. Otherwise, no identifying information is shared without permission.
Can I choose my ombuds?
Yes. You may choose the ombuds team member you prefer to work with.
How do I prepare for a meeting?
No preparation is needed. Come ready to share your concerns and goals for the conversation.

Still have a question? Contact the ombuds team.

What People Are Saying

Feedback from individuals who have worked with an ombuds.

“The ombuds resource helped me clarify the options and goals, and it was very useful to bounce ideas off someone knowledgeable.”

“I appreciated having a third-party resource listen to my concerns and help me sort through my thoughts.”

“The most valuable part [of working with the ombuds] was having a sounding board for my concerns and an outside perspective.”

Tips for Navigating Conflict

For a conflict-resolution tip from your DIII-D and Tokamak Research ombuds team check out these articles:

Speak Now or Simmer Later: The High Cost of Avoiding Conflict

Avoidance is a common reaction to conflict – this article articulates the importance of addressing conflict as it arises.

Read more

Why We’re So Sure – And So Often Wrong

We all can fall into the trap of jumping to conclusion in interpersonal interactions, this article details why so many of us make assumptions and how to interpret the tendency to jump to conclusions.

Read more

Connect with an Ombuds Team Member

Whether you have a question, want to think through a situation, or need help preparing for a conversation, the ombuds team is here to support you.

Contact us

Contact an Ombuds Team Member

Submit a confidential request to connect with an ombuds. A member of the ombuds team will respond within one business day.

Your submission is confidential.

Standards and Governance

The ombuds resource operates under a charter approved by DIII-D Director, Richard Buttery and follows the International Ombuds Association Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. View the charter →