Confidential initial advice on conflicts – free of charge for members
Conflicts are part of everyday working life. To support our members, the bdla Berlin-Brandenburg will be setting up an ombudsman service from January 2026. Members will receive easily accessible, confidential initial advice on internal conflicts within planning offices or between other bdla members.
What does the ombudsman service offer?
During the pilot phase, the bdla will cover the costs of an initial exploratory consultation of up to 90 minutes per conflict case and calendar year.
As a member of the bdla Berlin-Brandenburg Regional Association, you are entitled to a
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- free initial consultation
- confidential discussion – no information will be passed on to third parties without your consent
- an analysis of your situation and clarification of possible courses of action
- Recommendation on how to proceed – whether mediation or a mediative approach is appropriate, or whether other support (e.g. legal advice) is required
- Simple conflicts may be resolved during this session
During this initial consultation, the ombudsperson, Beate Voskamp, supports members who have made an enquiry by:
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- A structured analysis of the situation
- Initial clarification of the conflict
- Guidance on options for action
- Assessing which next steps would be appropriate
- Optional: a brief joint orientation meeting with several parties involved
- Anonymised documentation for the association (number of cases, topic clusters)
What is not included?
The service funded by the association does not include further conflict resolution. If more intensive mediation or facilitation is required, the parties involved decide independently whether they wish to make use of follow-up support, which is subject to a fee.
When is the Ombudsman’s Office the right choice for you? Who is the Ombudsman’s Office for?
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- For all members of the Berlin-Brandenburg Regional Association
- For internal conflicts (team, roles, collaboration, leadership, communication)
- Not covered: conflicts with clients, public authorities or external partners
- Assessments and advice on how to tackle a conflict constructively
What happens after the initial consultation?
After the first meeting, you have three options:
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- Simple conflicts may already have been resolved – you have the guidance you need and can proceed on your own
- Mediation support is advisable – you can engage Beate Voskamp or another person you trust on an individual basis (costs are borne by your organisation or by you personally)
- A referral to a third party, e.g. a solicitor, is recommended
Important: The initial consultation is free of charge for you. Anything beyond that (further mediation sessions, workshops, etc.) will be agreed on a case-by-case basis and funded by you or your organisation.
Your ombudswoman: Beate Voskamp
Beate Voskamp is a qualified landscape architect and a certified mediator. She has many years’ experience in conflict facilitation, leadership training and mediation in planning and construction projects. She has been working with architectural and construction associations for many years and understands the specific challenges facing our sector.
Contact & Appointments
How to contact the Ombudsman’s Office:
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- Email: voskamp[at]beatevoskamp.de
- Telephone: +49 (0) 177 340 64 57
- Appointments: arranged promptly, e.g. within 5 working days
Pilot phase
The Ombudsman’s Office will enter a pilot phase at the start of 2026. The Executive Committee of the Berlin-Brandenburg Regional Association will continuously evaluate the feedback and keep members informed about the next steps.
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