Dear colleagues,
During 2016, the Cochrane Steering Group has been developing a proposal for the transition to a new governance structure for Cochrane, including a transition from the Steering Group structure to a new Cochrane Governing Board.
Following an initial round of consultation in February and March, the proposals were the subject of detailed and very productive discussions at the Mid-Year Meetings in London in April (see documents on here). An amended proposal has now been drafted, along with more detailed plans for amendments to Cochrane’s Articles of Association and the establishment of a Cochrane Council.
This proposal arises from a review of governance that the Steering Group conducted during 2015. Key aims for the new Board include ensuring that its membership reflects Cochrane as an evolving organization and our environment; supporting the Board's role in making decisions on behalf of Cochrane as a whole; opening the membership to bring in external perspectives and valuable skills; and refreshing our electoral procedures.
The current Steering Group believes that the proposed changes will deliver improved governance for Cochrane, while ensuring that Cochrane Groups and contributors retain an active and effective voice in Cochrane's leadership and direction.
Consultation and next steps
All Cochrane Groups and individual contributors are invited to discuss and have input into the current proposal. Final decisions on how to proceed will be made at the Steering Group meeting and Annual General Meeting at the Cochrane Colloquium in Seoul in October 2016.
- Consultation document [pdf]
- Current Articles of Association [pdf]
- Draft new Articles of Association [pdf]
Cochrane Group Executives are asked to lead these discussions and collating feedback among their constituents. All contributors are invited to contribute their feedback through the Execs, where applicable. Written feedback from the Execs should be submitted to Miranda Cumpston, Head of Learning and Support at the Cochrane Central Executive by Tuesday, 23 August.
Authors and other individual contributors are also invited to submit feedback directly via the online survey by Tuesday, 23 August.
All feedback received by this deadline will be collated and used to finalise documents for the Colloquium. The new Articles of Association will be put to the membership for ratification at the AGM, and the detailed policy documents will be considered for a decision by the Steering Group.
For more detailed information about the history of this project, please see the Governance Restructure Project page.
Best wishes
Miranda Cumpston
Head of Learning and Support