A round-up of upcoming Cochrane events and conferences

If you would like to list your event here, please contact Lydia Parsonson
 

Early Career Professionals - Upcoming activities
If you are interested in attending any Early Career Professional events, please see their most up-to-date event schedule here.

May

GRADE Guideline Development Workshop
Date: May 17-19, Austin, Texas, USA
This three-day workshop includes a mixture of plenary lectures and hands-on activities for using GRADE to assess the certainty of evidence and formulate guideline recommendations. We will focus on assessing evidence from non-randomized studies. Additional pre-workshop courses are available covering Systematic Reviews and Guideline Fundamentals for Panel Members and Organizational Staff. Register here. 

Cochrane Russia Workshop: Evidence-Based Clinical Guidelines for the Safety of Pharmacotherapy
Date: 18 May, online
Join Cochrane Russia for this webinar with leading global experts and researchers to learn about the latest developments in researching, developing, and implicating evidence-based clinical guidelines in the field of pharmacotherapy. 
More information and register here.

How to extract, analyze and present data in scoping reviews
Date: 18th May, 11:00am – 12:00pm (UTC+1) (check the event in your time zone)
How to extract, analyse and present data in scoping reviews can be challenging. This webinar will explore where and how you should extract the data from multiple evidence sources, the best approach in analyzing your collected data-including how to manage qualitative data, and novel ways to present your findings. More information and register here.

Workshop on Developing a Protocol for a Cochrane Systematic Review Cochrane Malaysia and Cochrane Indonesia
Date: 23-25 May 2023, RCSI & UCD Malaysia Campus, Penang
This collaborative workshop held in Malaysia bought to you by by both Cochrane Malaysia and Cochrane Indonesia will be on Developing a Protocol for a Cochrane Systematic Review. It is for individuals that are in the process of or are considering authoring a Cochrane systematic review. It is most suited to authors who already have a registered title, but authors who have not yet identified a title will also benefit from the course and will be given assistance to develop a title. More information here.

Using a GRADE-CERQual Approach in Qualitative Evidence Synthesis
Date: 25-31 May 14:00-16:00 BST (view event in your time zone) online
Systematic reviews of qualitative studies (qualitative evidence syntheses) are increasingly used to bring together findings from qualitative studies. In order to use synthesised findings to inform decisions we need methods to assess how much confidence to place in these findings. The GRADE-CERQual approach addresses this need. More information and tickets.

Risk of Bias 2 Workshop Cochrane Malaysia and Cochrane Indonesia
Date: 26 May 2023, RCSI & UCD Malaysia Campus, Penang
This workshop is for Cochrane authors and others embarking on systematic reviews, who might like to know more about this new tool since many systematic reviews have been published using this tool. Trainers will be from both Malaysia and Indonesia. More information here.

GRADE zur Bewertung der Vertrauenswürdigkeit der Evidenz
GRADE to assess the trustworthiness of the evidence– this event will be in German
Date: 31 May, Krems, Austria
In this workshop, participants will learn how to assess the trustworthiness of evidence from systematic reviews using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) method. Through lecture and hands-on exercises, participants will learn how to prioritize endpoints for GRADE assessment, how to incorporate different aspects into the assessment of evidence, and how to create evidence profiles and "Summary of Findings" tables in the associated software (GRADE GDTpro). This workshop will not address how to use GRADE to develop recommendations for guidelines. More information here.

TOT in (Cochrane) systematic review methods to Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) trainers.
Date: May 2023 Nairobi, Kenya
The aim is to advocate for inclusion of systematic review methodology in the curriculum of medical training institutions for wider adoption/implementation to ease student’s projects management and also for the trainer’s academic advancement.   

June

Systematic Review standard author training
Date: 2, 9 and 16 June 09:00-16:30 EST (check the event in your time zone)
More information and registration, email olivia.maurer@tufts.edu

Evidence and Gap Maps  
Date: 15 June 2023 10:00 – 4:30 IST (check the event in your time zone)
The aim of the workshop is to teach people how to generate Evidence Gap Maps Further information/registration: Further information and registration detail will be provided on ICMR website event calendar

Synthesis Without Meta-analysis (SWiM) reporting guidelines
Date: 22 June, 13:00 – 14:00 (UTC+1), (check the event in your time zone)
This webinar will present the Synthesis Without Meta-analysis (SWiM) reporting guideline which aims to help transparent reporting of synthesis of intervention effects sizes when the synthesis does not use meta-analysis. The guidance was funded by the Cochrane Strategic Methods Fund and provides nine reporting items to promote transparent reporting of how studies are grouped, synthesis methods used, how data are presented, and summary of the synthesis findings. More information and register here.

Evidenzbasierte Pflegepraxis – Einführungskurs
Evidence-based nursing practise – introductory course – this event will be in German
Date: 26-29 June, Krems, Austria
In this workshop, participants will learn the method of evidence-based nursing practice: translating a problem from practice into a good research question, systematically searching for studies and reviews on the internet and in specialised databases, critically assessing selected research papers, as well as interpreting the study results and transferring them back into practice. In a sequence of theoretical lectures and practical exercises, the participants learn how to deal with research literature in order to use scientific findings in everyday nursing care and thus expand their professional decision-making competence. More information here.

Nottingham Systematic Review Course
Date: 27-30 June
The course is aimed at enabling participants to become proficient in developing and undertaking a Cochrane-style systematic review of interventions. As this is an introductory course, no previous knowledge of systematic reviewing is required. The course utilises a combination of lectures, small group discussions, workshops, library-based interactive tutorials, with hands on practical work at computer stations using RevMan and Endnote software. Review Manager (RevMan) is the software used for preparing and maintaining Cochrane Reviews. Find out more information and book here. The course venue is Monica Partridge Building, University of Nottingham, University Park Campus, Nottingham, NG7 2RD

July

New tools in Cochrane methodology: RevMan Web and RoB2 – Workshop of the Cochrane: Athens, Greece
Date: 7-8 July 2023
This interactive course is addressed to clinicians, researchers, public health specialists and other healthcare professionals. The objective of the workshop is to introduce RevMan Web, the new review authoring tool, a platform where new statistical methods can more easily be introduced, its features and advantages, especially in synchronous co-working. More information and registration here. For any queries and registration, please contact mixalhspap13@gmail.comView the program here.

August

How to make your researcher more visible using audio-visual materials and social media
Date: 11 August 2023
This session will be presented by Dr. Soumitra Datta, sign up here

International Preventing Overdiagnosis conference
Date: 14 - 16 August, Hotel Scandic, Copenhagen, Denmark
More information. Call for Abstracts and Registration COMING SOON

September

Cochrane Colloquium 2023: Forward together for trusted evidence
Date: 4-6 September 2023 Central London, UK
This will be the first time the Cochrane community has come together since 2018 and in recognition of this, it is being designed to celebrate the diverse, global and cohesive nature of the collaboration that is Cochrane. Find out more at the Colloquium website

Study Within A Review (SWAR) Network meeting
Date: 5 September 07:30-08:45 BST (check the event in your time zone) London SW1P 3EE
A study within a review (SWAR)is a research study that can help provide evidence to inform decisions about how we plan, do and share the findings of future reviews. We’d like to bring together people who are interested in SWARs, and start a SWAR Network. We envision this network would explore SWAR methods, keep everyone up-to-date, and potentially explore challenges and opportunities around SWARs. Get tickets here.

Systematische Literaturrecherche
Systematic literature search basic and advanced– this event will be in German
Date: 11-12 September, blended learning + Krems, Austria
This workshop combines the contents of the workshop “Introduction to Systematic Literature Search” with an advanced course. The first part will cover the prerequisites and basics of systematic database searching: structuring questions, using Boolean operators, truncation, phrase searching and keywords, using the block building approach for systematic searches in PubMed. The advanced course will deal in-depth with aspects of literature searches as the basis of systematic reviews: Database selection and transfer of search strategies to other databases, searching in study registers, documentation and quality assurance of systematic searches. More information here.

Guideline Development Methodology
Date: 15 September 2023 10:00 – 4:30 IST (check the event in your time zone)
The aim of the workshop to sensitize stakeholders about guideline development. Further information/registration: Further information and registration detail will be provided on ICMR website event calendar

Kritische Bewertung medizinischer Studien
Critical evaluation of medical studies– this event will be in German
Date: 26-27 September, Krems, Austria
In this workshop, participants will learn how to critically evaluate different types of studies. At the beginning, the central sources of error in medical studies (confounding, bias, random errors) and the interpretation of the most important key figures will be discussed. Special focus is on randomised controlled trials, observational studies, diagnostic studies and systematic reviews. In a sequence of theoretical lectures on methodological basics and of practical exercises using examples from the medical literature, participants will learn how to proceed in the critical evaluation of studies in order to detect bias and manipulative presentation of results. More information here.

Kritische Bewertung von randomisiert kontrollierten Studien – online
Critical evaluation of RCTs– this event will be in German
Date: 9 October, online
The aim of this workshop is twofold: firstly, to impart the theoretical and methodical background that is necessary for the critical evaluation of clinical studies, and secondly, to give workshop participants practical experience in the critical evaluation of RCTs. This workshop is open to all who read published medical studies and wanted to assess their credibility and validity. More information here.

October

Systematic Review standard author training
Date: 6, 13, 20 October 09:00-16:30 EST (check the event in your time zone)
More information and registration, email olivia.maurer@tufts.edu

JBI Comprehensive Systematic Review Training Program
Date: October 3 - 6 2023 and Jan 9-12, 2024, 09:00-16:00 in person event
The Program enables participants to learn how to conduct robust systematic reviews of different evidence types in order to provide the strongest possible evidence to inform decision making or clinical guidelines in health care. More information and registration here

What Works Global Summit 2023
Date: 17-20 October, Delta Hotel by Marriott Ottawa City Centre
The What Works Global Summit is the largest event of its kind, bringing together researchers, leaders in evidence-based decisionmaking and practitioners to share the latest evidence synthesis research, research methods and practice strategies for improving the lives of individuals, families and communities worldwide. More information and registration here

Bayesianische Metaanalysen – Online
Bayesian meta-analyses– this event will be in English
Date: 18 October, online
In this workshop, participants will learn the main differences between Bayesian and frequentist statistics. They will learn by examples why the use of Bayesian experience is becoming more and more popular and what advantages these methods have in the interpretation of statistical results. In addition, Bayesian approaches to common problems associated with meta-analyses will be discussed, as well as common criticisms of Bayesian statistics. More information here.

Workshop on Developing a Protocol for a Cochrane Systematic Review
Date: 24-26 October 2023, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
This workshop on Developing a Protocol for a Cochrane Systematic Review is for individuals that are in the process of or are considering authoring a Cochrane systematic review. It is most suited to authors who already have a registered title, but authors who have not yet identified a title will also benefit from the course and will be given assistance to develop a title. More information and registration here.

EBHC International Conference 2023
Date: 25-28 October 2023 In person in Sicily and online
 internationally renowned EBHC champions will trace the way forward through the ecosystem of evidence, dozens of researchers will present the findings from their studies, and their experience teaching and disseminating EBHC. Register here and submit your abstract here

Risk of Bias 2
Date: 27 October 2023, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
This workshop is for Cochrane authors and others embarking on systematic reviews, who might like to know more about this new tool since many systematic reviews have been published using this tool. More information and registration here.

November

Introduction to Cochrane Methodology
Date: 20-24 November 2023
Cochrane Sweden is pleased to announce that registration is now open for our 1-week course on Cochrane Methodology. The course is aimed to be conducted at campus in Lund from Monday to Thursday and online over Zoom for Friday. More information can be found here.

Medizinische Statistik für Nicht-StatistikerInnen
Medical statistics for non-statisticians – basic– this event will be in German
Date: 29-30 November, Krems, Austria
In this workshop, we will look at statistical methods, medical research and health. Precisely because medical progress is mainly defined by statistical results in studies, it is of central importance to understanding this methodology. The workshop aims to familiarise participants with the basics of statistical planning and analysis and to give them a feeling for which methods are suitable for which questions and data. Furthermore, they are shown where the real information is hidden in scientific publications or how to find it. More information here.

2024

January

JBI Comprehensive Systematic Review Training Program
Date: 9am-4pm October 3-6 2023 and Jan 9-12, 2024, in person event
The Program enables participants to learn how to conduct robust systematic reviews of different evidence types in order to provide the strongest possible evidence to inform decision making or clinical guidelines in health care. More information and registration here

The Governing Board met in London on Thursday 31 August, Friday 1 September and Saturday 2 September. Members of the Governing Board are Cochrane’s Trustees and are responsible for the charity’s management and administration. The Board usually meets quarterly, two of the meetings are online and two are in person. Below is a summary of the meeting.

Open Access

Trustees discussed Open Access and the latest work that has been done to test a viable model for the future.  A number of potential outcomes have been identified and next steps will be discussed with Wiley.

Governance Review

A Governance Review was commissioned to help the Board consider how well Cochrane’s governance structures support the delivery of our strategic aims and charitable objectives. The report concluded that the organisation's governance structures are ‘healthy’.  A number of recommendations designed to build on firm foundations and clarify, simplify and strengthen our governance were made.

It was agreed that a Chair and a Vice Chair (rather two Co Chairs) would be appointed after a robust recruitment process to ensure that a wide pool of candidates is reached.

Membership and terms of reference for the Board’s sub Committees and working groups will be reviewed and more information will be gathered around the role and function of Cochrane’s many groups. The Governance and Nominations Committee will work with the Head of Governance to oversee the programme of work.

The role and function of the Council was considered as part of the Governance Review. The Board agreed that the Council is not able to fulfil all of the functions that it has been attempting to and that a new Advisory Panel will be established to gather perspectives from the whole community and provide advice to the Governing Board. Members of the Council committed to working together with the Governing Board to define the role, function and membership of a new Advisory Panel.

More information about the changes to the Council can be found here.

Financial results

The latest financial results showed that income from the Cochrane Library was up but both fundraising and events income were down when compared to the budget. Overall though, the projection of a £0.4m operating deficit was in line with the agreed budget for 2023.

Fundraising

An Income Generation Strategy which had been developed with input from the Fundraising Committee was approved. A draft accepting and rejecting donations policy was reviewed and more work will be done before it is approved.

The Cochrane Collaboration

The organization’s official name has always been The Cochrane Collaboration but after a rebranding exercise in 2015 it was agreed that we would be known as ‘Cochrane’ and that ‘The Cochrane Collaboration’ should not be used.

The Board agreed that branding guidelines should be updated to remove reference to not referring to Cochrane as The Cochrane Collaboration. Board members noted that collaboration is a behaviour and a way of working that never went away.

Strategy 2024-2027

The latest version of the strategy was discussed and members of the Board noted their thanks to the groups and individual members of the Community who had contributed to its development.

Catherine Spencer said that two main messages had come out of the engagement activity; that the direction of travel is the right one and, there is appetite to understand how the strategy will be put into operation.

The special session during the Colloquium provided another opportunity for engaging and collecting and the strategic goals were shared at the Annual General Meeting.

Publisher’s report

Deborah Pentesco-Murphy and colleagues from Wiley joined the Board and reported that as of June 2023 sales were 12% up on 2022. Free one-click access was available in over 100 low to middle income countries and 82% of Cochrane reviews could be viewed freely on Cochrane Library and PubMed Central.

The annual impact reports showed that a Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR) review published in 2021 or 2020 was cited, on average, 8.4 times in 2022 (this is known as the Impact Factor).

Customer survey results which showed that Cochrane’s most attractive feature is credibility.

Next meeting

The next meeting of the Governing Board will be on 8 December 2023. The meeting will be a virtual one.

The agenda and papers for the meeting will be published here.

At a joint face to face meeting in London on Sunday 3 September 2023, the Governing Board and the Council agreed to work in partnership to develop new and improved ways of engaging with the Cochrane Community.

The Council as it currently exists will not continue after the end of this year and a new Advisory Panel will be established to gather perspectives from the whole community and give advice to the Governing Board.

A working group made up of members of the Governing Board, the Council and others will be established to explore existing and new mechanisms for two-way communication, engagement and participation between the central organization and the community.

Council’s greatest value has been bringing together different perspectives from the whole community so that the bigger picture can be seen. The Governing Board expressed thanks and gratitude to members who have served on the Council. The Board recognised that the Council has tried to fulfil a wider range of functions than can be met by a single body.

With such a broad and diverse community of members, Cochrane needs a multi stranded approach to member engagement. A new Advisory Panel will be one important part of a new approach.

The working group will meet for the first time in October and we will keep you updated with progress.

Background and context

The Governing Board commissioned a review to better understand Cochrane’s governance structures. In summary, the review made the following conclusions:

• Cochrane is a complicated and a complex organisation. Formal governance and informal groups, bodies and entities have become increasingly complicated over time.
• The aim of enabling participation has led to the proliferation of groups and committees and the role and purpose of some has become unclear.
• Governance arrangements need clarifying, simplifying and strengthening.

The Council was established in 2017, the Terms of Reference set out the purpose as:

• a forum for Cochrane communities to consider high-level matters affecting Cochrane as a whole
• a mechanism to raise matters and provide input to the Board on behalf of Cochrane’s communities and
• a forum to consider matters at the request of the Board and inform Board deliberations

Some constituencies that existed when Council was created have or are being transformed. The constituencies vary in size and the process for becoming a member of Council is different depending on the constituency.

The Council ran an exercise in February 2023 to explore what members saw as the group’s purpose now and in the future and the results fed into the governance review.  The consultant who led the review joined Council at their meetings on 9 May and 27 June 2023 and interviewed individual members.

An Annual General Meeting of The Cochrane Collaboration (Cochrane) was held on Monday 4 September 2023 at the QEII Conference Centre in London.

For those who wish to revisit the AGM or missed the event, you can access the meeting agenda, presentations, and view the meeting video here. The minutes will follow.

Members approved the following resolutions at the meeting:

• To approve the minutes of the last Annual General Meeting, held on 17 October 2022.
  YES: 189 NO: 0 ABSTAIN: 28
• To receive and note the Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2022.
  YES: 192 NO: 4 ABSTAIN: 21
• To appoint Price Bailey as auditor until the Annual General Meeting in 2024
  YES: 187 NO: 0 ABSTAIN: 30

The voting results can be found on the AGM website.

Below, the video recording of the AGM:

Cochrane is using Slack, an online collaboration and chat platform, to encourage communication between members of our core community.

Using Slack, you can connect with your own Cochrane Group, other Cochrane Groups, and Central Executive Team members easily. Slack is a true collaboration platform; you can request to form your own channels (smaller group chats or larger, themed groups), direct message people, make calls and share screens, and join channels that are relevant to your work. Slack can help you stay informed about goings on at Cochrane, hear the latest news, get support, chat, and participate. 

With many of us working from home due to COVID-19 circumstances, we introduced Slack to the Cochrane Community in March 2020. It has now become a 'virtual office'  and 'water cooler' space for many. There are channels to talk about translations, events, and support channels for all your Cochrane work questions...as well as space to share book recommendations and pictures of pets. Join the conversation and feel more connected with your colleagues!

Slack has been set up to allow access for Cochrane Core Staff. To log in to Slack, you will need a qualifying role in a Cochrane Group:

• Staff in Cochrane Central Executive, Fields, Geographic Groups, Review Groups, Satellites and Networks
• Group Member in Governing Board
• Managing Translator in Translation Projects
• Convenor in Methods Groups
• Copy Editor

If you are not sure if you have a qualifying role, you can check the Roles tab in your Cochrane Account. If you don't have a qualifying role, you will need to contact your primary group Super User, who can give you this role.

To access Slack, you can login to the Cochrane Slack Workspace using your Cochrane Login. If you need any help setting up your account, check out this Cochrane Helpdesk article.

We look forward to chatting with you soon on Slack!

The Cochrane International Mobility (CIM) programme stands as a shining example of commitment to global knowledge exchange and transformative learning. Established with the aim of connecting individuals passionate about healthcare research, CIM has evolved into a dynamic platform that transcends borders and empowers individuals to make a lasting impact.

CIM offers networking opportunities for those eager to learn from their peers across the world. It's an open invitation to join the Cochrane Community—a global network of experts dedicated to advancing healthcare through evidence-based practices.

Purpose and Impact

The core purpose of CIM revolves around training, mentoring, and collaborative initiatives. Participants engage in activities that span the following:

• Publication of Cochrane Protocols and Reviews: A hands-on experience in creating Cochrane reviews that inform critical healthcare decisions worldwide.
• Strengthening Collaboration between Cochrane Groups: CIM forges partnerships among diverse Cochrane groups, creating a rich tapestry of expertise-sharing.

Additionally, participants hailing from all corners of the world have authored Cochrane reviews, contributing to healthcare decisions globally.

One key highlight of the Cochrane International Mobility Programme (CIM) is its lasting impact on research collaborations. Participants who embark on CIM placements often find themselves forging long-term partnerships that extend well beyond their initial experiences. What's more, CIM offers a unique opportunity for hybrid exchanges, allowing individuals to spend a few weeks at a Cochrane entity and seamlessly continue their collaboration online. This innovative approach not only facilitates knowledge sharing but also nurtures enduring connections among healthcare professionals, creating a vibrant network dedicated to advancing healthcare research worldwide.

Success Stories

CIM has witnessed several achievements:

• Seven medical students from Lund University (where Cochrane Sweden is based) ventured into CIM placements in different countries: Argentina, Austria (Cochrane Austria was the first Cochrane Centre to host a CIM student), Netherlands, Denmark, South Africa and Spain. They contributed as co-authors to eight Cochrane reviews and eight non-Cochrane reviews.
• Twenty-four junior researchers from various countries such as Italy, Poland, Colombia, Austria, Brazil, Japan, Netherlands, Iran, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Jordan, Peru, Greece, China, Germany and Australia embarked on CIM placements at Cochrane Sweden, becoming co-authors of 31 Cochrane reviews and 18 non-Cochrane reviews.

You can find examples of some of these exchanges here.

A New PhD Horizon

CIM is expanding its horizons further with the introduction of a new PhD program titled "Applied Evidence Syntheses in Health Research" at the University of Krems, where Cochrane Austria is based. The PhD program is currently undergoing the accreditation process and will probably start in 2024. This groundbreaking program is set to nurture the next generation of experts in evidence syntheses and methodological research, pushing the boundaries of evidence-based medicine.

Interested?

As valued members of the Cochrane Community, you are already part of this global movement that shapes the healthcare landscape. The Cochrane International Mobility Programme (CIM) invites you to take your place in this journey of learning, collaboration, and global impact.

To apply for these exciting international opportunities, simply head to Cochrane Engage where you can search for placements around the world and contact interested Cochrane Groups directly. Or contact the Cochrane Centre you are considering visiting. Consider basing the choice of your destination on the type of work done at each Cochrane Centre. For example, Rapid Reviews at Cochrane Austria, diagnostic test accuracy at Cochrane Netherlands, or reviews in paediatrics at Cochrane Sweden. For more information or general inquiries, please contact support@cochrane.org.   

If you have specific questions about placements, you can also reach out to the relevant Cochrane Group directly using the 'Questions & Comments' box on the posted opportunity in Cochrane Engage.

Are you interested in joining the Governing Board?

Two elected members of the Governing Board (Juan Franco and Tamara Kredo) come to the end of their first term of appointment this year and so elections will be held. Candidates must be a Cochrane Member as of 15 November 2023 to be eligible to stand in this election, membership is defined as having accepted the Terms & Conditions of Cochrane Membership. You can check your membership status here.    

The Cochrane Collaboration is a charity, registered with the Charity Commission (which regulates charities in England and Wales). Members of the Governing Board are the charity’s Trustees and Directors of the charitable company. Trustees are legally responsibility for the organization’s management and administration.  

This year the Board is looking for candidates who can demonstrate skills and experience in one or more of the following areas:  

• Leadership of global and/or complex organizations  

• Making organizations more diverse and equitable  

• Organizational change management  

• Fundraising and business development  

• Advocacy  

• Public relations and communications  

• Financial management and accounting  

• Digital product development  

• Publishing and Open Access  

  
The Board is committed to improving the organizations’ approach to equity, diversity and inclusion. It recognises that having members with a broad mix of skills and knowledge as well as a range of perspectives and lived experiences will help the Board to be innovative, flexible, better able to adapt to a changing environment and address future challenges.  

• Please visit the elections website for more information and to find an Elected Member Candidate Statement template.  
• The deadline for nominations is Friday 24 November 2023 in any time zone.  
• Please get in touch if you have any questions or need any more information - elections@cochrane.org.  

The Governing Board is meeting on Wednesday 6 December 2023. Items on the agenda include: 
 
1. The 2024-2027 strategy 

The Governing Board will be asked to approve the new strategy which has been developed over the last year. A Strategy Working Group has been meeting regularly and facilitated discussions with CET staff, the Methods Group, Cochrane Council,  Cochrane community, Consumer Executive, Geographic Groups, ‘Critical friends’, senior global health figures and attendees at the Colloquium in September have all contributed to the latest iteration of the mission, vision, goals and objectives. 

The next stage of the process is to agree how we are going to implement the new strategy and measure how well we are doing that using an Objectives and Key Results Framework. 

2. The plan and budget for 2024 

Karen Kelly (the Treasurer) and Casey Early (the Director of Finance and Corporate Services) will present the budget and plan for 2024 which has been developed with input from a Budget Committee. The Governing Board will be asked to approve the budget and plan which set out how we are going to manage our finances and deliver our work in 2024. 

3. Report from the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee 

The Committee reviewed the budget and operational plan for 2024 at a meeting on 16 November and will recommend that the Board approve both. They also discussed risk management. 
 

4. Report from the Remuneration Committee 

The Committee reviewed the Cost of Living Allowance for staff who are employed by Cochrane at a meeting held on 16 November and will make a recommendation to the Board. 
 

5. Report from the Governance and Nominations Committee 

The Committee met in late October and reviewed an updated Governing Board skills audit, a role description and process for recruiting a Governing Board Chair and the list of recommendations following on from the governance review. The Committee will update the Board on progress with all of these things. 

6. Report from the Future of Evidence Synthesis Oversight Committee 

The Committee met on 16 November and reviewed quarterly reports on progress with the priority projects that are included in this large programme of work (prospective author journey, review development pipeline, central editorial service, optimizing production workflow and new review format). Committee members also discussed Evidence Synthesis Units and Thematic Groups. The Committee will update the Board. 
 
7. Report from the Fundraising Committee 

 The Board will receive an update from the Fundraising Committee which met on 13 November. 

The Governing Board will meet again on 9 January 2024, the main item on the agenda for that meeting is going to be open access. Trustees will discuss how to forge ahead with our commitment to achieving universal open access to Cochrane systematic reviews without placing the financial burden on review authors and without risking the financial sustainability of the Charity. 

Two elected members of the Governing Board come to the end of their first term of appointment this year and so elections are being held.  The majority of Governing Board members are elected by Cochrane Members to ensure that the needs of the membership are reflected at board level. All Cochrane Members have one vote for each position available, so in this case members will have two votes. 

The call for nominations opened on 6 November 2023 and closed on 24 November 2023. There are seven candidates standing for election, they are:  

Lainie Cameron  

Sharon Einav  

Juan Franco (standing for re election)  

Vanessa Jordan  

Tamara Kredo (standing for re election)  

Rupesh Raina  

Aidan Tan  

Candidate statements can be found on the elections website link Elections to the Cochrane Governing Board 2023 | Cochrane Elections along with information about how to vote.     

Voting opened on Friday 1 December 2023 and closes on Friday 15 December 2023.  

All Cochrane Members are encouraged to promote the elections, although canvassing for specific candidates is not allowed. You can find out more on the Promoting & Communicating page of the elections website.    

The election will be conducted electronically via the elections website and will be overseen by Lucy Johnson-Brown, Head of Governance and Electoral Officer for this election.   

Contact elections@cochrane.org if you have any questions or need more information.   

Thank you very much to everyone who voted in the recent election for two members of the Governing Board. Over 350 people voted and the results are set out below: 
 
The following two candidates have been elected: 

Juan Franco (re-elected for a second term of three years) 

Tamara Kredo (re-elected for a second term of three years) 

Thank you also to all the candidates who stood in this election, electing trustees to the Governing Board is one of the ways that members can play a key role in shaping our strategic direction and influencing the way we work. 

The full vote count is available on elections.cochrane.org.  

More information about the Governing Board can be found here and more information about elections is here. 

Questions about the election and the role of the Governing Board can be answered by Lucy Johnson-Brown, Head of Governance and Electoral Officer for this election at elections@cochrane.org