Chris Silagy, AO, MD

Chris Silagy (1960-2001) was the founding Director of the Australasian Cochrane Centre, a former Chair of the Cochrane Steering Group and instrumental in Cochrane's development and success. Chris was energetic, positive and inspiring. Before his death in 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 contributions to Cochrane in ways that are often insufficiently recognised; for example, providing administration, management, Colloquium organisation, communication and motivation - in short, the 'glue' that helps to keep Cochrane together. The establishment and perpetuation of the Prize was approved by the Steering Group in April 2002.

The Chris Silagy Prize

The Chris Silagy Prize is awarded at every Cochrane Colloquium (and the Global Evidence Summit in 2017) to an individual who has made an “extraordinary” contribution to the Cochrane' s work.

The Prize consists of AU$1,000 (drawn from the Chris Silagy Memorial Fund), a certificate which includes the words 'for an extraordinary contribution to the work of The Cochrane Collaboration', and expenses associated with attending the Colloquium (to be met by Cochrane). Potential recipients of the Chris Silagy Prize are required to have:

• made an extraordinary contribution to Cochrane;
• made a contribution that exceeds the expectations of their employment;
• made a contribution to Cochrane that would not be recognised outside the scope of this Prize;
• been identified by their peers as consistently contributing to a spirit of collaboration.

Nominations and selection

Nominations should be sent to Sally Green (sally.green@monash.edu) with the name of the Prize in the subject heading. Nominations should include a nominator, two seconders, acceptance of nomination and a one-page supporting document supporting the nomination against the criteria. A selection panel of three individuals is appointed each year from past members of the Steering Group and its advisory committees, and the previous year's Prize recipient (if not conflicted). A governing committee oversees the Prize.

Chris Silagy Prize recipients

2017

Livia Puljak
Cochrane Croatia

2016

Anne Eisinga
Cochrane UK

2015

Jenny Bellorini
Cochrane ENT

2014

Denise Thomson
Cochrane Child Health

2013

Sally Bell-Syer
Cochrane Wounds

and

Nancy Owens
Cochrane Web Team (then)
Communications and External Affairs Department, Cochrane Executive Team (now)

2012

Jordi Pardo Pardo
Cochrane Musculoskeletal

2011

Martin Janczyk
Cochrane Web Team and Cochrane Germany (then)
Informatics and Knowledge Management Department, Cochrane Executive Team (now)

and 

Juliane Ried
Cochrane Web Team and Cochrane Germany (then)
Communications and External Affairs Department, Cochrane Executive Team (now)

2010

Chris Mavergames
Cochrane Web Team and Cochrane Germany (then)
Informatics and Knowledge Management Department, Cochrane Executive Team (now)

2009

Kate Cahill
Cochrane Tobacco Addiction

2008

Rasmus Moustgaard
Cochrane Nordic (then)
Informatics and Knowledge Management Department, Cochrane Executive Team (now)

2007

Heather Maxwell
Cochrane Vascular

2006

Monica Kjeldstrøm
Cochrane Nordic

2005

Janet Wale
Cochrane Consumer

2004

Sonja Henderson
Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth

2003

Gill Gyte
Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth

2002

Jini Hetherington
Cochrane Executive Team

Governing Committee for the Chris Silagy Prize

• Sally Green
• Jini Hetherington (from 2003)
• Philippa Middleton
• Jane Russell (Silagy)

Donations to the Chris Silagy Prize Fund

Donations to this Fund are most welcome.

Cheques should be made payable to 'The Silagy Fund, Monash University' and sent to The Development Office, Building 65, Monash University 3800, 246 Clayton Road, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia.

Credit card donations (MasterCard, Bankcard and Visa only) can be faxed to +61 3 9905 2944.  The credit card number should be written clearly, and the fax must include the expiry date of the credit card, the name exactly as it appears on the card, and the card holder's full name and address.

Telephone donations can be made to Sara Kelly, The Development Office, Monash University, University Development and Alumni, on +61 3 9905 9957.

Donors to the Chris Silagy Prize Fund

Individual donors:

Professor Leon Piterman; Mrs Pamela R Herman; Professor Elsdon Storey; Ms Lyn Roberts; Dr Wendy Rogers; Professor David Hill; Ms Frances Fairman; Professor Amy E Zelmer; Mr Eric L Garner, AM; Mrs Suzanne Strangward; Dr Rosemary L Nixon; Mrs Joan M McPhee; Mr John L McPhee; Professor Stephen J Duckett; Ms Pauline Pellegrini; Mr NG Taylor; Dr JL Linn; Dr JS Linn; Ms Margaret F Broadhead; Professor Godfrey Fowler; Mrs Jeannett L Hall; Mrs R Allen; Mr Ken R Strangward; Mr Julian F Coles; Ms Janet Coles; Professor MP Vessey.

Institutional donors:

National Heart Foundation of Australia; Mt Waverley District Scout Association