The Chris Silagy Prize Chris Silagy was the founding Director of the Australasian Cochrane Centre (1994 to 2001), a former Chair of the Cochrane Collaboration Steering Group and instrumental in the development and success of The Cochrane Collaboration. Chris was energetic, positive and inspiring. Before his death on 13 December 2001, Chris expressed a wish for a fund to be established, to be held by the Monash Foundation. Chris initiated this fund with his own contribution and requested donations be made to it instead of flowers or other tributes after his death. Chris requested that this fund be used to recognise extraordinary contributions, from an individual (or organization), to the work of The Cochrane Collaboration, in ways that are often insufficiently recognised. For example, providing administration, management, Colloquium organization, communication and motivation - in short, the 'glue' that helps to keep The Cochrane Collaboration together. At the Cochrane Collaboration Steering Group meeting in April 2002, the establishment and perpetuation of this prize was approved, with The Cochrane Collaboration agreeing to contribute in kind to the prize, by supporting the recipient’s attendance at the Colloquium to receive the prize. The Chris Silagy Prize is awarded at every Cochrane Colloquium The prize consists of a cheque for $AU 1000 (drawn from the Chris Silagy Memorial Fund), a certificate which includes the words ‘for an extraordinary contribution to the work of The Cochrane Collaboration’ (that would not be recognised outside the scope of this prize) and expenses associated with attending the Colloquium (to be met by The Cochrane Collaboration). Scope Potential recipients of the Chris Silagy Prize are required to have: • made an extraordinary contribution to The Cochrane Collaboration; • made a contribution that exceeds the expectations of their employment; • made a contribution to The Cochrane Collaboration that would not be recognised outside the scope of this prize (publishing a piece of research work or preparing a Cochrane systematic review do not fall within the scope of this prize as they qualify for other awards and methods of recognition); • been identified by their peers as consistently contributing to a spirit of collaboration. A call for nominations for the Chris Silagy Prize is made through The Cochrane Collaboration mailing lists in April each year. Nominations should include a nominator, two seconders and a one-page supporting document outlining how the nominee meets the selection criteria. A selection panel of four individuals is appointed each year from past members of the Steering Group and its advisory groups and the previous year’s prize recipient. A Governing Committee (see the Cochrane website for more details) oversees this prize. Chris Silagy Prize Recipients: 2002 - Jini Hetherington, Cochrane Collaboration Secretariat 2003 - Gill Gyte, Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group 2004 - Sonja Henderson, Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group 2005 - Janet Wale, Cochrane Consumer Network